សូមអបអរសាទរ
soum ob-or sa-tor
សូមអបអរសាទរ (soum ob-or sa-tor) is the Khmer way to say congratulations.
The phrase is used for formal achievements, such as graduations, promotions or official ceremonies.
Meaning: expressing approbation (intj)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of សូម (soum) meaning 'please' or 'to request', and អបអរសាទរ (ob-or sa-tor) meaning 'to celebrate' or 'to congratulate'.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
អបអរសាទរ is a formal way to say congratulations in Khmer. Dropping the សូម (soum) makes the phrase less formal and more direct, suitable for casual settings.
How do you pronounce it?
soum ob-or sa-tor
Did you know?
- In very casual settings among close friends, Khmer speakers may skip formal words entirely and use an exclamation like ឡូយ! which means 'cool' or 'stylish' to congratulate a success.
- While សូមអបអរសាទរ is a standard way to congratulate someone, Cambodians often use the word ជូនពរ (choun por), which means 'to wish blessings', to express similar warmth during celebrations.
- If you are congratulating someone of much higher social status or an elder, the level of the ‘Sampeah’ gesture you perform alongside សូមអបអរសាទរ must increase to show proper respect.
Examples in context
- សូមអបអរសាទរចំពោះជោគជ័យរបស់អ្នក!som ob-or-sa-tor chom-pous chouk-chey ro-bos neak!Congratulations on your success!
- ខ្ញុំសូមអបអរសាទរអ្នកដោយស្មោះ។khnom som ob-or-sa-tor neak doy smoh.I sincerely congratulate you.
Example conversation
Sreyny congratulates Vibol on winning a prize.
- ស្រីនី Sreynyវិបុល ខ្ញុំបានឮថាអ្នកឈ្នះរង្វាន់!Vibol, khnom ban lue tha nek chneah rong-voan!Vibol, I heard that you won a prize!
- វិបុល Vibolបាទ ខ្ញុំពិតជាសប្បាយចិត្តណាស់។Bat, khnom pit-chea sabay-chit nah.Yes, I am really happy.
- ស្រីនី Sreynyសូមអបអរសាទរ!Som ob-or-sa-tor!Congratulations!
- វិបុល Vibolអរគុណច្រើន ស្រីនី។Or-kun chreun, Sreyny.Thank you very much, Sreyny.
