22 June 2026·The Map Cambodia

Useful Khmer Words to Know Before You Visit Cambodia

Five useful Khmer expressions, a quick reference table and numbers from one to ten for cafés, markets and everyday travel in Cambodia.

How do you say hello and thank you in Khmer? Start with Sousdey (សួស្ដី) for hello and Arkoun (អរគុណ) for thank you. Keep these five expressions and the numbers below ready for cafés, markets and everyday exchanges during your trip.

Cambodian classical dancer in white and gold costume with detailed hand gestures, beside the words Top 5 Khmer words to know

Five useful expressions at a glance

Expression	Khmer	Meaning	When to use it
Sousdey	សួស្ដី	Hello	Start an exchange
Arkoun	អរគុណ	Thank you	After a meal, purchase or ride
Ot skor	អត់ស្ករ	No sugar	When ordering a drink
Thlai ponman?	ថ្លៃប៉ុន្មាន?	How much?	Before agreeing a price
Chhnganh	ឆ្ងាញ់	Delicious	After enjoying a meal

These are the five expressions from our original selection. The Khmer spelling is useful to show someone when the spoken word is hard to catch.

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How do you say thank you in Khmer?

អរគុណ means “thank you”. We write it Arkoun in this guide. The Khmer vocabulary from Northern Illinois University’s SEAsite records the Khmer word and its meaning; Latin spellings are only reading aids and can vary between guides.

At a café, after a purchase or at the end of a ride, the short expression is the one to keep ready. If the sound is unfamiliar, ask someone to say it and repeat it back. You can also show the Khmer script from the table or use the pocket card below.

A little about the Khmer language

Khmer, or ភាសាខ្មែរ, is the official language of Cambodia and one of the oldest languages in Southeast Asia. It belongs to the Austroasiatic language family and was shaped over centuries by Sanskrit and Pali through Hinduism and Buddhism — the same cultural threads you'll see in the country's classical dance and temple art.

Unlike Thai, Lao or Vietnamese, Khmer is not tonal, which makes it a little more approachable for first-time visitors. Its script has been in use since at least the 7th century. More than a means of communication, the language is a central part of Cambodian identity.

Five words worth learning

Five everyday words to start with — easy to remember and useful from your first day.

Sousdey — Hello

Khmer word Sousdey meaning hello, shown over a classical Cambodian dancer in white raising her hand

Sousdey (សួស្ដី) is a friendly hello for an informal exchange, such as greeting someone at a shop or starting a conversation with a driver. A smile and a sousdey are a good way to begin almost any exchange.

Arkoun — Thank you

Khmer word Arkoun meaning thank you, shown over a Cambodian dancer in a gold costume with hands pressed together

Arkoun (អរគុណ) means thank you. It's a small word that travels well — at a market stall, after a meal, or at the end of a spa treatment. Saying it, even imperfectly, is usually met with a warm response.

Ot skor — No sugar

Two glasses of iced coffee on a wooden tray on a marble table, paired with the Khmer phrase for no sugar

Ot skor (អត់ស្ករ) means no sugar — a genuinely practical phrase in Cambodia, where iced coffee and drinks are often served sweet. Use it when asking for a drink without added sugar, and confirm the request at the counter.

Thlai ponman? — How much?

Green mangoes and produce in woven baskets at a Cambodian market, paired with the Khmer phrase for how much

Thlai ponman? (ថ្លៃប៉ុន្មាន?) means how much? It's the question to keep ready at markets and street stalls, whether you're buying fruit, a snack or a souvenir. A few numbers in Khmer make it even more useful — and it pairs well with knowing how to pay in Cambodia, where riel, dollars and QR codes all turn up in the same transaction.

Chhnganh — Delicious

Cambodian fish amok steamed in a banana leaf, served with a mound of jasmine rice, paired with the Khmer word for delicious

Chhnganh (ឆ្ងាញ់) means delicious. It's a nice word to offer after a good meal — a quick way to thank a cook or a stall owner and to share that you enjoyed what you ate. Few things open up a conversation faster than appreciating the food.

Numbers to make the price question more useful

Number	Khmer digit	Khmer word	Reading aid
1	១	មួយ	muey
2	២	ពីរ	pii
3	៣	បី	bey
4	៤	បួន	buen
5	៥	ប្រាំ	pram
6	៦	ប្រាំមួយ	pram-muey
7	៧	ប្រាំពីរ	pram-pii
8	៨	ប្រាំបី	pram-bey
9	៩	ប្រាំបួន	pram-buen
10	១០	ដប់	dap

The spellings above follow the Khmer number lesson from Northern Illinois University's SEAsite. Six to nine combine five with one to four. Romanisation is a reading aid, not an exact pronunciation guide; listen to a Khmer speaker and repeat the word back.

For a price, confirm both the number and the currency. Showing the amount on a phone can be clearer than guessing what you heard.

Put the five expressions to use

At a café: greet with Sousdey, use Ot skor when ordering a drink without sugar, and finish with Arkoun.
At a market: ask Thlai ponman?, confirm the amount and currency, then say Arkoun.
After a meal: Chhnganh is a simple way to say you enjoyed it.
Before a ride: greet the driver, show the destination on your map and confirm the fare before leaving. A shared pin is more useful than trying to translate an unfamiliar address.

A quick note before you go

Khmer romanisation varies, so you'll see these words spelled in different ways depending on the source. Don't worry about getting the pronunciation perfect — the effort itself is what's appreciated. Learning even a handful of words tends to make a city feel easier to navigate and a little more familiar.

Planning your first days? A one-day itinerary in Phnom Penh is a good place to put these words to use. Explore more places and travel notes on The Map Cambodia.

Pocket phrase card

Keep the five phrases within reach.

Copy one phrase to show on your phone, or copy the complete card before you head out.

Sousdeyសួស្ដី: HelloA friendly way to begin an exchange.
Arkounអរគុណ: Thank youUseful after a meal, purchase or ride.
Ot skorអត់ស្ករ: No sugarKeep it ready at cafés and drink stalls.
Thlai ponman?ថ្លៃប៉ុន្មាន?: How much?For markets, street stalls and small purchases.
Chhnganhឆ្ងាញ់: DeliciousA simple compliment after good food.

From inspiration to the ground

Continue with the useful guides.

Explore the stops that interest you. For the exact order, realistic timing and coordination, we then shape the trip around your dates.

Money in CambodiaCash, cards and everyday paymentsOpen the guide Explore Siem ReapLocal places beyond the templesOpen the guide Trip rhythmsCompare broad routes without a fixed programmeOpen the guide

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