នៅស្ងៀម
nov sngiem
The phrase "be quiet" in Khmer is នៅស្ងៀម (nov sngiem).
នៅស្ងៀម is used to request or command someone to stop making noise, but it can also be used to tell someone to stop moving and stay still.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the verb នៅ (nov) meaning "to stay/remain" and the adjective ស្ងៀម (sngiem) meaning "still/quiet".
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
While នៅស្ងៀម is the standard form, the reduplicated form ស្ងាត់ៗ is used in a more colloquial or gentle way to ask someone to be quiet.
How do you pronounce it?
nov sngiem
Did you know?
- In Cambodia, a person may put their finger to their lips to signal នៅស្ងៀម, but doing so to a superior or an elder can be seen as disrespectful or overly aggressive.
- While នៅស្ងៀម can be a direct command, in many Cambodian social contexts, using such a blunt verb without a polite particle can be perceived as quite aggressive or rude.
- The word ស្ងាត់ is reserved for describing the peaceful atmosphere of a place, whereas ស្ងៀម describes the behavior of a person.
Examples in context
- សូមនៅស្ងៀមបន្តិច។som nov sngiem bantech.Please be quiet for a moment.
- ក្មេងៗ សូមនៅស្ងៀម!kmeng kmeng som nov sngiem!Children, please be quiet!
- គាត់ប្រាប់ឱ្យខ្ញុំនៅស្ងៀម។koat prab oy khnom nov sngiem.He told me to be quiet.
Example conversation
A student is asking a classmate to stop talking in the library.
- វិបុល Vibolតើមានរឿងអ្វីមែនទេ?tae mean rueang avei men te?Is something wrong?
- ចិន្តា Chindaសូមនៅស្ងៀមផង ខ្ញុំកំពុងរៀន។som nov sngiem phong khnom kompong rien.Please be quiet, I am studying.
- វិបុល Vibolអូ! ខ្ញុំសុំទោស ចិន្តា។oh! khnom som tos, chinda.Oh! I am sorry, Chinda.
- ចិន្តា Chindaមិនអីទេ វិបុល។min ey te, vipul.It's okay, Vipul.
