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Khmer Food Words — Cambodian Food Vocabulary & Phrases
Food is one of the most immediate ways to connect with Cambodian culture. From fish amok to kuy teav noodle soup, Khmer cuisine has a rich vocabulary. Knowing food words helps diaspora learners navigate family meals, Cambodian restaurants, and conversations about home cooking.
Essential Phrases
បាយ
bay
Rice / a meal
ទឹក
tek
Water
ឆ្ងាញ់
chngaign
Delicious
ហូបបាយ
hob bay
To eat (a meal)
អាហារ
a-har
Food
ថ្លៃប៉ុន្មាន?
thlay pon man?
How much does it cost?
Hear These Phrases With Audio
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Start Learning Free →More Khmer Food Words Vocabulary
ពណ៌ក្រហម
kro-hom
red
ពណ៌ខៀវ
por kheav
blue
ពណ៌លឿង
por lueng
yellow
ពណ៌ទឹកក្រូច
por tek-krouch
orange
ពណ៌បៃតង
por bai-torng
green
ពណ៌ផ្កាឈូក
por phka-chhouk
pink
ពណ៌ស្វាយ
por svay
purple
ពណ៌ត្នោត
por tnaot
brown
Cultural Context
Rice (បាយ, "bay") is so central to Cambodian culture that "eating" is literally "eating rice" (ហូបបាយ, "hob bay"). Cambodians often greet each other with "Have you eaten yet?" (ហូបបាយហើយឬនៅ?) as a way of expressing care — similar to asking "How are you?" in English.
Learn in a Structured Course
These phrases are covered in depth in the following ReanKhmer curriculum units: