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Get to Know the Khmer language and explore Cambodia
The Khmer language is the official and national language of Cambodia, where it is spoken as a first language by around 13 million people. It is also spoken as a second language by minority groups in the country.
The total number of speakers of the Khmer language is thought to be around 18 million, as there are significant communities of speakers in neighbouring Thailand and Vietnam, as well as a much smaller number in Laos.
Why learn the Khmer language?
Though an Austroasiatic language, Khmer has been influenced by Sanskrit and Pali through the popularity of Hinduism and Buddhism.
Old Khmer is the earliest recorded language of the Mon-Khmer family, written and spoken during the Chenla (6th to 9th century CE) and Angkor (9th to 15th century CE) empires.
The Khmer language is written in the Khmer script, an abugida derived from the Brahmi script.
ភាសាខ្មែរ (Phéasa Khmêr) means ‘Khmer language’ in Khmer.
In contrast to other languages of the region like Vietnamese, Lao, Thai, and Burmese, Khmer is not a tonal language.
Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Photo by Vanna Phon on Unsplash
Speakers :
18 million
Where :
Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand, Laos
Dialects :
Standard Khmer / Central Khmer
Northern Khmer
Western Khmer
Phnom Penh Khmer
Khmer Krom / Southern Khmer
Khmer Khe
Map
By ArnoldPlaton, based on the maps Austroaziatisch.PNG and Se asia lang map.png, edited by Nnemo - SVG version of Se asia lang map.png, edited, Copyrighted free use, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=18530936
Resources for learning the Khmer language
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Websites and Courses
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Videos
Cambodian Alphabet (Playlist) - Learn Cambodian
Cambodian for Tourists (Playlist) - Learn Cambodian
Cambodian Grammar and Phrases (Playlist) - Learn Cambodian
Learn Cambodian - Part I (Playlist) - Learn Cambodian
Learn Cambodian - Part II (Playlist) - Learn Cambodian
Learn Cambodian - Part III (Playlist) - Learn Cambodian
Cambodian Vocabulary (Playlist) - Learn Cambodian
Cambodian for Foreigners (Playlist) - Khmer Lesson
Khmer Listening Practice (Playlist) - Khmer Lesson
Khmer Folktales (Playlist) - Khmer Lesson
Let’s Learn How to Read Khmer Letters (Playlist) - Dara Yin
Khmer Language Lessons (Playlist) - Dara Yin
Khmer Lessons : Reading and Listening Skills (Playlist) - Dara Yin
Khmer Folktales (Playlist) - Dara Yin
Khmer Songs (Playlist) - Dara Yin
Khmer Listening Practice for Intermediate and Advanced Students (Playlist) - Dara Yin
Topics You Should Learn When Taking Khmer Lessons (Playlist) - Dara Yin
Khmer Conversation Lessons (Playlist) - Learning Khmer 101
Khmer Word List (Playlist) - Learning Khmer 101
Khmer Language Tutorials - Learning Khmer 101
Learn Khmer Lessons (Playlist) - CambodianSchool
Read and Write Khmer (Playlist) - cvbienert
Khmer Language Lessons (Playlist) - cvbienert
Listen to the Khmer Language of Cambodia : Chantara Speaking Khmer - Wikitongues
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Books
by Lexicon Language Audiobooks
រះអង្គម្ឆាស់តូច (The Little Prince in Khmer)
by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
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Podcasts
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Articles
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Contact
Do you make videos or resources for learning a specific language? Feel free to get in touch so I can add links to your work on the relevant Get to Know page for that language, or in the relevant How to Learn Languages guide.
As well as helping people to learn languages, encouraging linguistic diversity, and raising awareness for the rights of indigenous peoples, I hope How to Learn Languages will also help to grow the audiences of anyone creating resources for learning languages.