Language/Central-khmer/Vocabulary/Relationship-Status
Relationship status plays an important role in Central Khmer culture as family and relationships hold a significant position. In this lesson, you will learn how to discuss relationship status in Central Khmer by recognizing words and expressions commonly used for single, married, divorced, and more. The lesson will cover the following topics:
Once you've mastered this lesson, take a look at these related pages: Fruits & Telling Time.
Vocabulary
Central Khmer has several words and expressions that denote relationship status. For example:
| Central Khmer | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| នៅលាស់ | nuh laah | single |
| រៀនស្វាយ | riin svay | dating |
| បោះពុម្ព | bao pum | engaged |
| រៀនស្រឡាញ់ | riin sralao | in a relationship |
| រៀនស្រលាញ់ | riin sralanh | married |
| ផោមមិន | porm min | divorced |
| នៅប៉ុណ្ណ៉ា | nuh ponnhaa | widowed |
Some additional words that might come in handy:
| Central Khmer | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| ស្រី | srei | woman/girl/female |
| ប្រុស | broh | man/boy/male |
| ក្មេង | kmeung | child |
| ឪពុក | opok | father/dad/daddy |
| ម្តាយ | mteay | mother/mom/mommy |
| ប្រពន្ធព្រះស្តេច | prapoun preah sdech | king |
| ស្រីស្អាត | srei sat | queen |
| សេចក្តីប្រកាស | serkdei braksa | vow/wedding promise |
Expressions
To ask someone their relationship status or to tell them your own, you can use the following expressions:
- "តើអ្នកនៅលាស់ឬទេ?" (tov anek nuh laah or te?) - Are you single or not?
- "ខ្ញុំមានភាពរៀនស្វាយ" (knhom mean pheap riin svay) - I am in a dating relationship.
- "ខ្ញុំរៀនអោយស្មេងនៅលីវ" (knhom riin aoy smaeng nuh liw) - I am giving my heart to someone.
- "ខ្ញុំជាប់លេងម្រុំ" (knhom jea leng mrom) - I am already married.
- "គ្រាន់តែដោយខ្ញុំផ្អែម" (kra-neh tae doy knhom p'aem) - It's just me alone.
Cultural Insights
In Central Khmer culture, marriage is seen as an important aspect of life for both men and women. Wedding ceremonies are grand and may last for several days. The groom's family is expected to provide the dowry in terms of money, gold, or other gifts to the bride's family, and the wedding is usually held at the bride's family home. The Central Khmer culture has a strong emphasis on maintaining the marital bond, and divorce is a social taboo. It is considered a failure and can lead to social isolation and family disgrace. Older family members are given great respect, and it is not unusual to find extended family units living under one roof.
Practice
Here are some exercises to help you practice the vocabulary and expressions for relationship status in Central Khmer:
1. Read the following sentences in Central Khmer, then translate them into English. - "ខ្ញុំមានវត្តមានស្វាយដែលខ្ញុំស្រលាញ់។" - "ស្រលាញ់នឹងស្មេងពីរ។" - "នៅលីវជាប់គ្រួសាររបស់ខ្ញុំមាន់ធ្វើមិនទាន់លែងសម្រាប់រដូវកាលនៅប៉ោយបែប់។" - "ស្រីមែនណាស់ប្រុសម៉ូតែកំពុងស្រលាញ់?"
2. Write a dialogue between two people discussing their relationship status. Use at least five of the vocabulary and expressions from this lesson.
3. Think of a wedding ceremony you have attended, and list three ways it was similar to or different from a Central Khmer wedding.
Further Reading
If you want to explore more about Central Khmer culture and customs, the following resources might interest you:
1. Cambodian Culture Since 1975: Homeland and Exile by May Ebihara, Carol A. Mortland, and Judy Ledgerwood (2014) 2. The Arts of Southeast Asia from Prehistoric to Contemporary Times by Tony Day and Maya H.T Liem (1998) 3. Research articles on Central Khmer culture available at the Center for Khmer Studies.