PeopleCambodian in Thai
“Cambodian” in Thai is กัมพูชาgam-puu-chaa; you'll also hear เขมรkà-měen (Khmer).
Cambodia; Cambodian noun
- gam mid
- puu mid
- chaa mid
- Mid: level, in your normal speaking voice.
Khmer (the people and the language) noun
- kà low
- měen rising
- Low: flat and lower than your normal voice, dropping a little at the end.
- Rising: start low, dip, then rise to the top, like a doubtful “Really?”
How to use it
The country is กัมพูชาgam-puu-chaa; its people and language are เขมรkà-měen, Khmer. Thai writing developed from old Khmer script, which is why the two look like relatives: see the Thai writing system. In Thai provinces near the border, such as Surin, many families speak a Khmer dialect at home.
Other spellings you'll see
There's no single official way to write Thai in English letters. We mark the tone of every syllable; online you'll also find:
- kamphucha
- gam pu cha
- khamen
- khmen
More people in Thai
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Written by the Learn Thai For Free team
Audio: AI voices, quality-checked for tones