រីករាយឆ្នាំថ្មី
rik reay chnam thmei
To say "happy new year" in Khmer, use រីករាយឆ្នាំថ្មី (rik reay chnam thmei).
Meaning: Happy New Year (phrase)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase រីករាយឆ្នាំថ្មី is composed of រីករាយ (happy), ឆ្នាំ (year) and ថ្មី (new).
How do you pronounce it?
rik reay chnam thmei
Did you know?
- During the New Year, Cambodians often perform a ritual where they pour water over Buddha statues and elders' hands. This act of purification is meant to wash away the bad luck of the previous year.
- The phrase រីករាយឆ្នាំថ្មី is a modern translation of the English greeting. Traditional Khmer celebrations focus more on the concept of ឆolឆ្នាំ which literally means 'entering the year'.
- In Khmer culture, it is common to avoid saying anything negative or arguing when exchanging New Year wishes. Doing so is believed to set a negative tone for the entire coming year.
Examples in context
- សូមជូនពរ រីករាយឆ្នាំថ្មី!som choun por rik reay chhnam thmey!I wish you a Happy New Year!
Example conversation
Two friends meet on the street during the New Year holiday.
- វិបុល Vibolសួស្តីចិន្តា! រីករាយឆ្នាំថ្មី!suostei Chinda! rikreay chhnam thmei!Hello Chinda! Happy New Year!
- ចិន្តា Chindaសួស្តីវិបុល! រីករាយឆ្នាំថ្មីដូចគ្នា!suostei Vibol! rikreay chhnam thmei doch knia!Hello Vibol! Happy New Year to you too!
- វិបុល Vibolតើអ្នកមានគម្រោងទៅដើរកម្សាន្តទេ?tae neak mien kumroung tov der kamsan te?Do you have plans to go traveling?
- ចិន្តា Chindaបាទ ខ្ញុំនឹងទៅលេងខេត្តជាមួយគ្រួសារ។bat khnhom nung tov leng khet cheamuoy krousar.Yes, I will visit the province with my family.
Khmer is not a tonal language
Fair point, thanks. I’ve removed the line about tones.