ហៅ
haw
The English phrase 'call' is translated into Khmer as ហៅ (haw).
The verb ហៅ is used to contact someone by telephone. It is also used when you call someone by their name or shout to get someone's attention.
Meaning: to contact by telephone (verb)
How do you pronounce it?
haw
Did you know?
- The word ហៅ shares an ancient root with the Sanskrit word hava, which was used to mean a 'call' or an 'invocation' to gods.
- While ហៅ means 'call', Khmer speakers often use a different verb when specifically referring to 'dialing' a number on a phone.
- The concept of 'calling' in Khmer can extend to naming something, where ហៅ is used to say what an object is called.
Examples in context
- តើអ្នកអាចហៅលេខនេះបានទេ?tae neak ach hau lek nih ban te?Can you call this number?
- ខ្ញុំនឹងហៅទៅគាត់នៅពេលល្ងាច។khnhom nung hau tov koat nov pel lgeach.I will call him this evening.
Example conversation
Two friends are planning a meeting over the phone.
- ចិន្តា Chindaរតនៈ តើអ្នករវល់ទេ?Ratanak, tae neak rovol te?Ratanak, are you busy?
- រតនៈ Ratanakខ្ញុំមិនរវល់ទេ។ មានការអ្វី?khnhom min rovol te. mean ka avei?I am not busy. What is up?
- ចិន្តា Chindaខ្ញុំនឹងហៅទៅអ្នកនៅពេលល្ងាច។khnhom nung hau tov neak nov pel lgnach.I will call you in the evening.
- រតនៈ Ratanakបាទ ខ្ញុំនឹងរង់ចាំ។bat, khnhom nung rong cham.Yes, I will wait.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry ហៅ, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ហៅ, CC BY-SA 4.0.
