So far, I know about 100 words and phrases in Khmer. I should be able to converse with a three year old by the time I land in Siem Reap. I have tricks for remembering the new vocabulary.
Write = Saw-see. Saucy writing.
Skinny = Sgoom. Skinny as a broom.
Paper = Kro-dah. Crawdad.
A little = Bon-dteuk. Bon bons are little.
Some of the words are fun to say.
Spider = Ping-pleang
Hurry up = Oy lern loung
My favorite time to practice is while I'm hiking. I carry a scrap of paper with Khmer scribbled on it and walk along, loudly repeating the words over and over, trying to get the pronunciation right, giggling at my ineptitude while attempting to make sounds like tvwo-gaa form on my lips. When other hikers approach me, they avert their eyes and veer away from the crazy, homeless person. Ha! I fooled them. I'm only crazy.
This is the closest Cambodian name to mine. It means mountain.
Write = Saw-see. Saucy writing.
Skinny = Sgoom. Skinny as a broom.
Paper = Kro-dah. Crawdad.
A little = Bon-dteuk. Bon bons are little.
Some of the words are fun to say.
Spider = Ping-pleang
Hurry up = Oy lern loung
My favorite time to practice is while I'm hiking. I carry a scrap of paper with Khmer scribbled on it and walk along, loudly repeating the words over and over, trying to get the pronunciation right, giggling at my ineptitude while attempting to make sounds like tvwo-gaa form on my lips. When other hikers approach me, they avert their eyes and veer away from the crazy, homeless person. Ha! I fooled them. I'm only crazy.
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