Weird Khmer Words
Weird Khmer Words
When I speak Khmer and use different word for family term, people look very confused. My family from father's side uses words like "gong"(grandpa) "ma"(grandma) "hian"(brother) "di"(brother) "mey"(sister) "tey"(sister) "gim"(aunt) "sim"(also aunt) "e"(aunt). Where are these word from? I barely hear anyone use it.
Your father's side probably has chinese blood, as most of those appear similar to cantonese/Chinese.firetruck wrote:When I speak Khmer and use different word for family term, people look very confused. My family from father's side uses words like "gong"(grandpa) "ma"(grandma) "hian"(brother) "di"(brother) "mey"(sister) "tey"(sister) "gim"(aunt) "sim"(also aunt) "e"(aunt). Where are these word from? I barely hear anyone use it.
http://www.chinese-lessons.com/cantones ... Family.htm
'e' for aunt is from Chinese and commonly used in my wife's family.
Yeah, there is a strange address system to Chinese-Khmers (or those seen to have lighter skin), I know 'Ee' and 'Kong' is used a lot, especially down the markets.
Also, families seem to have there own things, for example the kids call my wife 'ee' and some of the uncles 'oo'.
My kid call his grandmother 'mai', oldest aunt 'mak thom' his mother 'mak touch' and youngest aunt 'ee mom'. Then he uses 'pu' and 'om'for some uncles, but 'oo' for others, along with the standard 'minh, yay and ta'.
Also, families seem to have there own things, for example the kids call my wife 'ee' and some of the uncles 'oo'.
My kid call his grandmother 'mai', oldest aunt 'mak thom' his mother 'mak touch' and youngest aunt 'ee mom'. Then he uses 'pu' and 'om'for some uncles, but 'oo' for others, along with the standard 'minh, yay and ta'.
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Because your family is of chinese descent (Teochew) precisely.firetruck wrote:When I speak Khmer and use different word for family term, people look very confused. My family from father's side uses words like "gong"(grandpa) "ma"(grandma) "hian"(brother) "di"(brother) "mey"(sister) "tey"(sister) "gim"(aunt) "sim"(also aunt) "e"(aunt). Where are these word from? I barely hear anyone use it.
The hierarchy system in Teochew is much more accurate than khmer one. From the way you call someone, people around can easily guess what's your relationship to this person.
All these words are borrowed from Chinese.
If you read French, you can check this:
https://khmerologie.wordpress.com/2014/ ... -en-khmer/
On this post, you'll have the Chinese characters for the words used in Khmer.
If you read French, you can check this:
https://khmerologie.wordpress.com/2014/ ... -en-khmer/
On this post, you'll have the Chinese characters for the words used in Khmer.
There’s also dialect variations. Some words are not used elsewhere, like the word “silly” - “fleur jang” (not chhkuot) is used in Kampong Cham but not say in Kampong Som.
Also everyday words are pronounced slightly differently depending on what area you’re from and age.
Obviously the youngsters have slang words that someone in their 50s won’t know. Much like the west, particularly the UK.
I was with my wife when we met a Scouser and she asked what language he spoke.
Also everyday words are pronounced slightly differently depending on what area you’re from and age.
Obviously the youngsters have slang words that someone in their 50s won’t know. Much like the west, particularly the UK.
I was with my wife when we met a Scouser and she asked what language he spoke.
pew, pew, pew, pew!
How about 'JJ' (rough approximation) for older sister? Khmers told me it was Chinese, but my Chinese friend(who speaks both Mandarin and Cantonese) said it wasn't.
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Do you mean 'ចែ'? 'JJ' is how some Cambodians seem to write it on Facebook and it's a fairly common way of addressing an 'older sister'. If so it comes from the Chinese word '姐' [jiě].
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