Cities and Locations

This unit covers meeting people and discussing where they live and work in Phnom Penh. You will learn vocabulary for places (hotels, restaurants, streets), times of day, days of the week, and how to describe your daily activities and location.

Basic Dialogue

Cambodian (romanized)	English
look chmúh ɛy?	What’s your name?
khñom chmúh pool.	My name is Paul.
look thee kaa ɛy?	What’s your job?
baat, khñom thee kaa niw kesuoŋ khoosɔnaakaa ameriʔkaŋ.	I work at the American Information Service.
coh look inoh, thee kaa niw-inaa’ dɛh?	And you over there sir, where do you work?
baat, khñom thee kaa niw ambasaat ameriʔkaŋ.	I work at the American Embassy.
look ñiceeñ mɔdol mpifi pii ŋkaal?	When did you arrive in Phnom Penh?
baat, khñom mɔdol mpifi cɨt mɔkhaɛ’ eh.	I arrived in Phnom Penh almost a month ago.
alew look somnaʔ-asɛ̀ay niw-inaa?	Where are you staying now?
ou, khñom niw otaɛl cɔmuoy look pool.	Oh, I’m in the hotel with Paul.
otaɛl naa?	Which hotel?
baat, otaɛl róoyal.	The Hotel Royale.
coh look pɔsaa baay niw-inaa?	And where do you eat?
baat, khñom ñam baay niw khnoŋ otaɛl niŋ daɛ. kee mian mɔhoup khmaɛ chŋañ’ ah.	I eat right in the hotel. They have very delicious Cambodian food.
baat, mɛɛn’ eh. khñom thlóp tiw ñam baay niw kelaɛŋ nuh pii-bey dooŋ’ dɛh.	Yes, that’s right. I have gone to eat there two or three times myself.
nih cia otaɛl lʔoo ciaŋ kee bŋ-oh, taam khñom smaan.	This is the best hotel of all, I believe.
baat, pɔkot’ eh.	Yes, that’s right.
con phtéh look’ niw tòŋ-naa?	And where is your house?
baat, phtéh khñom leek mɔhòoy mɔphey, mɔhaa-vithey monivúŋ.	My house is Number 120, Monivong Avenue.
ñceŋ m chŋaay pɔmaan pii kelaɛŋ khñom niw’ dɛh.	Then it’s not too far from where I live.

Key Vocabulary

Cambodian	English
otaɛl (outaɛl, houtaɛl)	hotel
phtéh baay	restaurant
haay baay	restaurant
kelaɛŋ (konlaɛŋ)	place
tòŋ (troŋ)	spot
phtéh	house
haay	shop, store
salaa	hall
poh	post-office
véŋ	palace
géa, gaa	railroad station
salaa rien	school
thŋay	daytime, day
yúp	nighttime
pɛ̀k (prek)	morning
thŋay tòŋ (troŋ)	noon
asiel (róosiel)	afternoon
leŋiec	evening
atiet (aatriet)	night
(thŋay-) atit (aatit)	Sunday
(thŋay-) can	Monday
(thŋay-) ŋkia (oŋkia)	Tuesday
(thŋay-) put	Wednesday
(thŋay-) pehóh (prohóh)	Thursday
(thŋay-) sok	Friday
(thŋay-) saw	Saturday
chnam	year
khaɛ	month
mɔkhaɛ	one month
mɔdol	to arrive

Grammar Notes

The Honorific Pre-Verbal Modifier /ñiceeñ/

The modifier ñiceeñ (/oñiceeñ/) is used before verbs of motion to show respect, distinguishing ordinary motion from polite motion: khñom tiw. (I’m going.) vs look ñiceeñ tiw. (You’re going. — respectful). khñom thlóp tiw. (I have been there.) vs look thlóp ñiceeñ tiw. (You have been there. — respectful).

Times of Day and Days of the Week

Times are constructed with maoŋ ‘o’clock’ plus numerals: maoŋ bey (three o’clock). Days of the week use thŋay- prefix: thŋay-can (Monday), thŋay-sok (Friday), thŋay-saw (Saturday). Calendar terms: chnam (year), khaɛ (month), atit (week), thŋay (day).

Verbs of Eating

In polite Cambodian, the verb for ‘eat’ differs by social register: ñam (neutral), pesaa (familiar/informal), and pɨsaa is too low for a respected person. khñom ñam baay niw otaɛl. (I eat at the hotel.)

Practice Drills

Drill A. Substitution

Cambodian	English
look thee kaa ɛy?	What is your job?
look thee kaa niw-inaa?	Where do you work?
look thee kaa niw tòŋ-naa?	At what place do you work?
look thee kaa cɔmuoy nɔmaa?	Who do you work with?
look thee kaa thŋay naa-khlah?	What days do you work?
look thee kaa pɔmaan khaɛ haey?	How many months have you worked?
look thee kaa yup rii thŋay?	Do you work nights or days?
look thee kaa sùol rii pɔbaa⁹?	Is your work easy or hard?

Drill B. Response

Cambodian	English
look thee kaa ɛy? (kùu bŋien) → khñom thee kùu bŋien.	What is your job? (teacher) → I am a teacher.
look thee kaa niw-inaa? (ambasaat ameriʔkaŋ) → khñom thee kaa niw ambasaat ameriʔkaŋ.	Where do you work? (American Embassy) → I work at the American Embassy.
look thee kaa cɔmuoy nɔmaa? (look pool) → khñom thee kaa cɔmuoy look pool.	Who do you work with? (Paul) → I work with Paul.