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.

Tree at Angkor Wat, Siem Reap, Cambodia

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.

A beach at Koh Rong Sanloem, Sihanoukville, Cambodia
The Cambodian flag in Phnom Penh, Cambodia

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 showing where the Khmer language is spoken in Southeast Asia, as well as the other Austro-Asiatic languages
 

Cover Image

Angkor Wat, Siemreap, Cambodia

Photo by Pou Neang on Unsplash

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

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.