Master basic Khmer & Lao phrases before your Mekong cruise or overland journey! Speak confidently, connect with locals, and unlock authentic experiences on your Cambodia Tours or Laos Travel adventure with Legend Travel Group.
Moments money can’t buy on Cambodia Tours (Source: Internet)Written by Tony Bùi, with over 20 years of experience guiding more than 100,000 international travelers across Southeast Asia. This guide is crafted from real conversations on our Mekong cruises and overland journeys, plus feedback from thousands of Legend Travel Group guests.
Best language teachers in Laos — free! (Source: Internet)Speaking even a few words in Khmer or Lao transforms your trip from “tourist” to “honored guest.”
On a Legend Travel Group Cambodia Tours river cruise from Siem Reap to Phnom Penh, or a Laos Travel slow-boat journey from Luang Prabang to the Golden Triangle, locals light up when you greet them in their mother tongue.
These simple phrases open doors to hidden temples, spontaneous home-cooked meals, and genuine smiles that no guidebook can buy.
Ready to speak like a local? Here are the exact phrases our guests use every single day — plus pronunciation tips that actually work.
Pronunciation note: Khmer is not tonal like Vietnamese or Thai. Stress the last syllable and keep your voice level.
Hello (formal) → suo s’dei (soo-uh sday)
Hello (informal) → chum reap sua (joom-ree-up soo-uh) – perfect for tuk-tuk drivers!
Thank you → aw kun (aw-koon) – say it with a smile and watch doors open
Thank you very much → aw kun ch’ran (aw-koon chran)
Yes (female speaker) → jah (ja)
Yes (male speaker) → baht (baht)
No → teh (tay)
Delicious! → ch’nganh! (ch-n-yun) – use at every street stall
How much? → tlai ponman? (tlai pon-mahn)
Too expensive → tlai nah (tlai naa) – say with a smile, then bargain!
Can I take a photo? → at ban teuk? (at bahn teuk)
Beautiful temple → angkor sompoth (angkor som-pot)
I’m going to Angkor Wat → k’nyom tlew Angkor Wat (k-nyom tloo angkor wat)
Bless me please (to monk) → som chum reap suor (som joom-ree-up soo-uh)
Our Swiss guest Anna used “aw kun ch’ran na” (thank you so much) when a Phnom Penh family invited her for fresh coconut on the riverbank. The entire village joined for photos — a moment she still talks about two years later.
From phrase card to perfect street food order (Source: Internet)Pronunciation note: Lao is tonal — 6 tones! Keep it simple: speak slowly and smile. Locals love the effort.
Hello → sabaidee (sa-bai-dee) – the universal Lao greeting
Thank you → khob chai (kop jai) – say it often!
Thank you very much → khob chai lai lai (kop jai lai lai)
Yes → doi (doy)
No → baw (baw)
Delicious! → saep lai! (sep lai) – use at every noodle stall
How much? → tao dai? (tao dai)
Too expensive → phaeng lai (peng lai)
Beautiful waterfall → nam tok ngam (nam tok ngam)
I’m going to Luang Prabang → khoi ja pai Luang Prabang (koi ja pai luang pabang)
Can I visit the temple? → khoi dai pai wat dai baw? (koi dai pai wat dai baw)
During our Laos Travel cruise, German couple Markus & Lena learned “khob chai lai lai der” (thank you very much) from their guide. At Pak Ou Caves, a monk blessed them with holy water and tied a sacred string — all because they spoke his language.
Carry our Legend Travel Group phrase card — laminated, waterproof, and free on every cruise
Record locals saying the phrase — play it back when you’re stuck
Use “female/male” endings — Khmer changes based on speaker’s gender; Lao doesn’t
Smile first, speak second — Southeast Asians value harmony over perfect pronunciation
Practice on the cruise — our guides turn every sunset into a language class!
The blessing you’ll never forget (Source: Internet)Khmer: som at tlai ponman? (can you make cheaper?)
Lao: lot noi dai baw? (can discount a little?)
Khmer: k’nyom tlew Phnom Penh (I’m going to Phnom Penh)
Lao: khoi ja pai Pakbeng (I’m going to Pakbeng)
Both languages: som chum reap suor / sabaidee phra + wai/sampeah
Because we don’t just give you a phrasebook — we give you real conversations.
Every Cambodia Tours Mekong cruise includes:
Daily 30-minute “Sunset Language Hour” on deck
Local host families who teach you over dinner
Waterproof phrase cards with QR codes to native-speaker audio
Every Laos Travel slow-boat journey includes:
Morning coffee with your Lao guide practicing tones
Village visits where kids correct your pronunciation (and laugh with you!)
When language opens doors (Source: Internet)Book your Mekong adventure today and receive:
FREE Legend Travel Group waterproof phrase card
Native-speaker audio downloads
Only 10% deposit — keep your peace of mind until 30 days before departure
Explore our Cambodia Tours → https://www.legendtravelgroup.com/cambodia-tours
Discover our Laos Travel → https://www.legendtravelgroup.com/laos-tours
Your first “sabaidee” or “suo s’dei” is waiting.
By Legend Travel Group — Crafting authentic Mekong memories since 2008.
Favorite experiences booked by travelers
