To greet someone in Khmer language, you can use different ways depending on the level of formality and respect. The most common way is to say “susadei” (សួស្តី), which means “hello” in an informal way. You can use this word when you greet your friends, peers, or younger people. You can also perform a gesture called “sampeah” (សំពះ), which is placing your palms together in front of your chest, like a lotus flower. The higher you raise your hands, the more respect you show.
Another way to greet someone in Khmer language is to say “chom reap sour” (ជំរាបសួរ), which means “hello” in a formal way. You can use this word when you greet your elders, superiors, or strangers. You should also perform a sampeah with your hands at the mouth level or higher, depending on the status of the person you are greeting.
To say goodbye in Khmer language, you can use the same words and gestures as when you say hello. You can say “susadei” or “chom reap sour” with a sampeah, depending on the situation. Alternatively, you can also say “chom reap lea” (ជំរាបលា), which means “goodbye” in a formal way.
