Khmer Greetings — How to Say Hello in Cambodian
Greetings are the foundation of any language, and Khmer greetings carry deep cultural meaning. The Sampeah gesture — pressing palms together while bowing — signals the level of respect you show. Mastering Khmer greetings is often the first step diaspora learners take when reconnecting with their heritage.
Essential Phrases
Hear These Phrases With Audio
ReanKhmer includes native speaker audio for every vocabulary item — practice real Khmer pronunciation, not just romanization.
Start Learning Free →Cultural Context
The Sampeah (សំពះ) is the traditional Cambodian greeting gesture. The height of the hands signals respect: hands at chest level for peers, at nose level for elders, at forehead for monks or royalty. Using the wrong level can be seen as disrespectful, so learning the gesture alongside the words matters.
Learn in a Structured Course
These phrases are covered in depth in the following ReanKhmer curriculum units: