ពេជ្រ
pɨc
The English word diamond is ពេជ្រ (pɨc) in Khmer.
Meaning: gemstone (noun)
How do you pronounce it?
The romanization is pɨc.
Did you know?
- The word ពេជ្រ shares a common ancestor with the Sanskrit word vajra, which means both 'diamond' and 'thunderbolt'.
- The concept of the 'diamond' in Khmer Buddhist contexts often represents the 'Diamond Realm', a state of enlightenment that is unbreakable and clear.
- While English uses 'diamond' to describe a shape, the Khmer word ពេជ្រ is strictly used for the precious stone or its mythological equivalent.
Examples in context
- ពេជ្រនេះមានតម្លៃណាស់។pich nis mean tamlay nas.This diamond is very valuable.
- គាត់ទិញចិញ្ចៀនពេជ្រមួយ។koat tinh chin nien pich mouy.He bought a diamond ring.
- តើពេជ្រនេះពិតឬទេ?tae pich nis pit reu te?Is this diamond real?
Example conversation
Sreyni and Narong are looking at jewelry in a shop.
- ណារ៉ុង Narongមើលខ្សីកនេះ ស្រីនី!meul khseit nis, Sreyni!Look at this necklace, Sreyni!
- ស្រីនី Sreynyតើវាធ្វើពីពេជ្រមែនទេ?tae vea thveu pi pech men te?Is it made of diamond?
- ណារ៉ុង Narongបាទ វាជាពេជ្រពិតៗ។bat, vea chea pech pit pit.Yes, it is a real diamond.
- ស្រីនី Sreynyវាស្អាតខ្លាំងណាស់ ណារ៉ុង។vea s-at khlang nah, Narong.It is very beautiful, Narong.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “diamond” translations and entries ពេជ្រ, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ពេជ្រ, CC BY-SA 4.0.
