ម៉ែធម៌
mae thor
The English word "godmother" is translated into Khmer as ម៉ែធម៌ (mae thor).
The term refers to a woman present at the christening of a baby who promises to help raise the child in a Christian manner.
Meaning: woman present at the christening of a baby who promises to help raise the child in a Christian manner (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The word is composed of ម៉ែ (mae), meaning 'mother' and ធម៌ (thor), which is derived from the Pali/Sanskrit word for 'dharma' or 'virtue/law'.
Which one should you use?
ម្តាយធម៌ is a more formal version of ម៉ែធម៌.
How do you pronounce it?
mae thor
Did you know?
- In Cambodia, the concept of a 'godparent' is often extended to non-Christians to describe any respected adult who takes a special interest in a child's upbringing.
- Although ម៉ែធម៌ refers to a Christian godmother, the word ធម៌ comes from the Pali and Sanskrit words for 'dharma' or 'cosmic law' which are central to Buddhism.
- The term ម៉ែធម៌ is part of a broader system of honorary titles where adults are addressed as 'parents' or 'siblings' to show respect, even if no blood relation exists.
Examples in context
- គាត់គឺជាម៉ែធម៌របស់ខ្ញុំ។koat keu chea mae thor robos khnom.She is my godmother.
- តើអ្នកចង់ក្លាយជាម៉ែធម៌មែនទេ?tae nek jong klay chea mae thor men te?Do you want to be the godmother?
Example conversation
Vibol and Chinda are talking about a baby's baptism.
- វិបុល Vibolតើអ្នកណាជាម៉ែធម៌របស់កូន?tae neak na chea mae thorm robos kon?Who is the baby's godmother?
- ចិន្តា Chindaមិត្តភក្តិរបស់ខ្ញុំជាម៉ែធម៌។meut pheak robos khnhom chea mae thorm.My friend is the godmother.
- វិបុល Vibolគាត់ជាមនុស្សដែលល្អណាស់។koat chea monous del lo-or nas.She is a very good person.
- ចិន្តា Chindaបាទ គាត់នឹងជួយមើលថែកូន។bat, koat nung chuoy meul tha kon.Yes, she will help take care of the child.
