# Khmer

/ˈkmɛɹ/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/khmer
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. the language

noun · CEFR B2

the official language spoken by the people of Cambodia.

For teachers: the national language of Cambodia, belonging to the Mon-Khmer branch of the Austroasiatic language family.

- She is learning to speak Khmer before her trip to Southeast Asia.
- Khmer is an analytic language that does not use tones, which distinguishes it from many of its regional neighbours like Thai or Vietnamese.

### 2. the people

noun · CEFR B2

a person from the main ethnic group in Cambodia.

For teachers: a member of the Austroasiatic ethnolinguistic group that constitutes the majority of the Cambodian population.

- The Khmer are known for their rich history and beautiful traditional dances.
- The Khmer people have inhabited the lower Mekong valley for millennia, establishing one of the most powerful empires in Southeast Asian history.

### 3. relating to the culture

adjective · CEFR B2

relating to the people, language, or culture of Cambodia.

For teachers: pertaining to the Khmer people, their language, or the specific cultural and architectural heritage of Cambodia.

- We spent the afternoon admiring the ancient Khmer temples at Angkor Wat.
- The museum features an extensive collection of Khmer sculpture, showcasing the intricate stone carvings characteristic of the Angkorian period.

### 4. the script

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

the system of writing used for the Khmer language.

For teachers: the abugida script used to write the Khmer language, derived from the Brahmi script of ancient India.

- The signs in the city were written in both Khmer and English.
- Khmer script is notable for its complex system of subscript consonants and its status as one of the oldest writing systems in the region.

## Examples

- She is learning to speak Khmer before her trip to Cambodia.
- The museum features a stunning collection of ancient Khmer sculptures dating back to the Angkor period.
- Linguists classify Khmer as a non-tonal language within the Mon-Khmer family, distinguishing it from many of its regional neighbors like Thai or Vietnamese.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.