Knowra Khmer language Khmer language Khmer is an Austroasiatic language spoken chiefly in Cambodia and by Khmer communities in neighboring countries. It is Cambodia’s official language and uses the Khmer script.
Khmer script : An abugida used to write Khmer, with consonant symbols that determine the forms of dependent vowels. Its symbols represent the language in Cambodia’s writing system.
Old Khmer : The historical form of Khmer recorded in inscriptions from the early centuries of the Khmer Empire. Its inscriptions provide the earliest substantial written evidence for Khmer.
Khmer language education : The teaching and learning of Khmer as a first or additional language. Schools and literacy programs transmit the national language across generations.
Vietnamese language : An Austroasiatic language spoken chiefly in Vietnam, with a phonemic tone system and Latin-based writing. Vietnamese shares a distant family relationship with Khmer but differs in tone and script.
Khmer phonology : The system of consonant, vowel, and syllable contrasts used in Khmer pronunciation. Khmer is not tonal; vowel quality and phonation help distinguish words.
Angkorian inscriptions : Stone and metal texts produced in the Khmer Empire, often in Sanskrit or Old Khmer. They document Old Khmer vocabulary, grammar, and public use across centuries.
Khmer diaspora : Communities of Cambodian and Khmer origin living outside Cambodia. Diaspora communities sustain Khmer through family life, schools, media, and cultural institutions.
Thai language : A Kra–Dai language and the official language of Thailand, written in the Thai script. Thai is a neighboring national language from a different family, with lexical influence on Khmer.
Khmer grammar : The patterns governing word formation, phrases, and sentences in Khmer. Its analytic structure relies heavily on word order and particles rather than inflection.
Khmer literature : Literary works composed in Khmer, spanning oral traditions, verse, drama, and modern writing. Its history shows how the spoken language became a medium for varied literary forms.
Show all 20