សួរ
suə
The English phrase 'ask' can be translated into Khmer as សួរ (suə) or សុំ.
Meaning: request an answer (verb)
Ways to say it
| Khmer | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| សួរ | suə |
| សុំ | som |
The verb 'ask' is used to request an answer.
Which one should you use?
Use សួរ (suə) when you are asking a question to seek information. In contrast, use សុំ (som) when you are requesting an object, permission or a favor.
How do you pronounce it?
suə
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly use សួរ (suə) when they mean to request an object. In those cases, you should use សុំ (som) instead.
Did you know?
- Khmer has a distinct way of 'asking' for forgiveness using សុំទោស (som tos), where សុំ functions as a request for the 'apology' or 'pardon' itself.
- Because សុំ is used for requests, it is frequently paired with the 'sampeah' gesture, where the palms are pressed together in a prayer-like position to show respect while asking.
- The word សុំ is a shortened version of the Old Khmer word សូម (soum), which is still used in very formal or royal contexts today.
Examples in context
- ខ្ញុំចង់សួរអ្នកមួយសំណួរ។khnhom chong sour neak muoy somnuar.I want to ask you one question.
- សូមសួរគាត់អំពីតម្លៃ។som sour koat ampi tamlai.Please ask him about the price.
Example conversation
Ratanak and Sokha are studying together at a library.
- សុខា Sokhaរតនៈ តើអ្នកមានសំណួរអ្វីទេ?Ratanak, tae neak mean somnour avei te?Ratanak, do you have any questions?
- រតនៈ Ratanakបាទ ខ្ញុំចង់សួរអំពីមេរៀននេះ។bat, khnhom chong sour ompi merien nis.Yes, I want to ask about this lesson.
- សុខា Sokhaសួរសំណួរមក ខ្ញុំនឹងជួយ។sour somnour mok, khnhom nung chuoy.Ask your question, I will help.
- រតនៈ Ratanakអរគុណ សុខា។orkoun Sokha.Thank you, Sokha.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “ask” translations and entries សួរ, សុំ, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries សុំ, សួរ, CC BY-SA 4.0.
