Holy @%&*!

One day I was sitting at the office table with Kim, and I made a very important request.  "Kim, teach me a Khmer swear word."  By this time, Kim had spent enough time with me and was fairly used to my inappropriate topics of discussion.  However, I could tell that she was still a little uncomfortable and it took her a moment to give me an answer.  She said, "k'ball doo."  "What's that mean?" I asked.  "It mean you are stubborn."  OK, not exactly what I was looking for, so I pressed on and asked for another.  She said, "H'look no."  Again, I asked the meaning, and she said, "It mean you are impolite person."  Obviously, this what not going anywhere.  I didn't want to learn how to tell someone they were a jerk.  I wanted to be vulgar and offensive.

 

At this point Chanda, another teacher, had sat down at the table and was playing with her phone.  I told Kim that in English, our swear words usually deal with body parts such as asshole or dick.  Suddenly, Chanda got very stiff and a stricken look appeared on her face.  She continued messing with her phone, and it was obvious she was pretending that she wasn't listening to any of this.  Then, I decided to ask Kim about a word which I've found to be universal.  "How do you say Fuck you?" 

 

Apparently, this was even a bit much for Kim because she squirmed in her seat, and there was this long pause.  She looked to Chanda for assistance, but Chanda stood up and bolted.  I continued pressuring Kim to give me an answer.  I knew she knew the word, but was having a hard time actually getting it out of her mouth.  Finally, she said, "kyo meechow k'doo."  I made her repeat it several times, so I could write it down correctly and pronounce it right.  I think she was relieved when the bell rang, and she was able to flee from her unladylike friend and our crude conversation.