Personal Pronouns

    One of the most difficult problems in Khmer for a foreign student is the choice of appropriate pronouns, because they are context oriented.  For example the personal pronoun are determined by the status of the speakers to the addressee.  Thus there are no general pronouns such as "you" which are appropriate for all situation.  The tables below provide the commonest Khmer personal pronoun and their explanation:

A.  First Person

Singular
Khmer	IPA	How to use
xj?u	kn)om	It is a polite pronounce, used to address to the elder and  same age person.  "I"
xj?uZaT	kn)om baat	This pronounce is used the same way as "xj?u ".  "I"
K6a	knie	It is a polite word, used to address to the same age person.  "I"
GBaj	qan)	It is an impolite word, used to address to unrespectable person. Sometime, it can be used with closed friend but it is very sensitive.   I would suggest not to use this pronounce. "I"

Example:

Khmer		English
xj?ueTAsalaeron		I go to school
K6aedIreTApSar   suxcg'eTApSarCamYyK6a /		I walk to the market, Do you want to go with me Sok?

Plural
Khmer	IPA	How to use
eyIg	yeeN	It is a polite pronounce, used to address with the  elder, younger and the same age people.  "We"
eyIgxj?u	yeeN kn)om	This pronounce is used the same as pronounce "eyIg".  "We"
BYkeyIg	pueq yeeN	This pronounce is used the same as pronounce "eyIg".  "We"
BYkK6a	pueq knie	This pronounce is used the same as pronounce "eyIg".  "We"

Example:

Khmer		English
eyIgcg'eronExMr.		We want to study Khmer.
eyIgxju?CanisitS		We are students.
BYkeyIgeronExMrCamYyelakRKUs?		We study Khmer with teacher Sam.

B.  Second Person

Singular
Khmer	IPA	How to use
elak	look	It is a polite masculine pronounce, used to address to the  elder, younger or the inferior to the superior in a formal situation.  "You" or "Mr."
elakRsI	look srey	It is a polite feminine pronounce, used to address to the  elder, younger or the inferior to the superior in a formal situation.  "You" or "Mrs."
G6k	ne(eq	Address to people who is approximately at the same age (You).
{g	qaeN	It is an impolite pronounce, used to address to the  younger.   "You"

Example:

Khmer		English
elakcg'BisarKuyTaveT /		Do you want to eat noodle soup?
elakRsIs6ak'enA{Na /		Where do you stay?
G6keQMaHGI /		What is your name?

Plural
Khmer	IPA	How to use
Gs'elak	qAh look	It is a polite masculine pronounce, used to address to the  elder, younger or the inferior to the superior in a formal situation.  "You all" or "Mr. all"
Gs'G6k	qAh ne(eq	It is a pronounce that is used to address to a rgroup of approximately the same age people.  "You all"

Example:      

Khmer		English
Gs'elakmkBIRbeTsNa /		Where are you all from?
Gs'G6ks6ak'enA{Na /		Where do you all stay?

C.  Third Person

Singular
Khmer	IPA	How to use
va	wie	It is used to address from the superior to the inferior, adult to child, otherwise insulting, human to animal "It"
Kat'	ko(et	It is a polite unisex pronoun that is used to address respectfully from younger to older, adult to adult. "He or She"
eK	kee	It is used to address to people that we don't know. "He, She, One, or Someone"
nag		It is a polite feminine pronounce that is used to address respectfully from the elder to the younger. "He or Shel".

Example:      

Khmer		English
ekMgenHvamkBINa /		Where is this kid come from?
Kat'eronExMrenAsalaNa /		At what school does he or she study Khmer?
eKcg'eTANa /		Where is he or she want to go?
nagenaHeFIVkarGIenARsukExMr /		What does she do for a living in Cambodia?

Plural
Khmer	IPA	How to use
BYkva	pueq wie	It is used to address from the superior to a group inferior, adult to a group of children, or human to a group of animal "They all"
BYkKat'	pueq ko(et	It is used to address to a group of the same age people or to a group of older people. "They all"
BYkeK	pueq kee	It is used to address to a group of unknown people. "They all"
BYknag	pueq nieN	t is used to address from the older people to a group of young feminine. "They all"

Example:

Khmer		English
;f9enHmanekMgeRcInNas'mkelg sYnenH. BYkvamkBINa /		Today, there are many children in this park.   where are they all from.
BYkKat'eronExMrenAsalaNa /		At what school do they study Khmer?
BYkeKcg'eTANa /		Where do they want to go?
BYknageFIVkarGIenARsukExMr /		What do they do for a living in Cambodia?

Note:

• Cambodian has a much lager number of pronouns than English.  In Cambodian personal pronoun reflect gender, relative age, and social status.