សូមឱ្យមានថ្ងៃល្អ
soum aoy mean thngai l'a
The English phrase "have a good day" is expressed in Khmer as សូមឱ្យមានថ្ងៃល្អ (soum aoy mean thngai l'a).
This is a polite phrase used to wish someone a pleasant day when you are saying goodbye.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of សូម (please/may), ឱ្យ (to let/give), មាន (to have), ថ្ងៃ (day) and ល្អ (good).
How do you pronounce it?
soum aoy mean thngai l'a
Did you know?
- In casual settings, Cambodians may skip the formal សូមឱ្យមានថ្ងៃល្អ and simply ask ទៅណា? ('where are you going?') as a way of acknowledging someone and wishing them well.
- In Cambodia, the height of the hands during the sampeah gesture changes based on the social status of the person you are wishing a good day to, ranging from the chest to the nose or forehead.
- The word សូម ('please' or 'may') is derived from Pali and Sanskrit, reflecting the deep influence of Indian spirituality and court language on the Khmer phrasing of wishes.
Example conversation
Two colleagues are leaving the office for the day.
- សុខ Sokខ្ញុំទៅផ្ទះហើយ ចិន្តា។Knhom tov pteah haeuy Chinta.I'm going home now, Chinta.
- ចិន្តា Chindaចា៎ លាហើយ សុខ។Cha lea haeuy Sok.Yes, goodbye Sok.
- សុខ Sokសូមឱ្យមានថ្ងៃល្អ!Som oy mien thngai l-or!Have a good day!
- ចិន្តា Chindaអរគុណ សូមឱ្យអ្នកមានថ្ងៃល្អដូចគ្នា។Orkun som oy neak mien thngai l-or doch knea.Thank you, have a good day too.
