ក្រូចឆ្មា
krouch chhma
In Khmer, the word for lemon is ក្រូចឆ្មា (krouch chhma).
While English speakers distinguish between a yellow lemon and a green lime, the Khmer term ក្រូចឆ្មា is commonly used for both.
Meaning: citrus fruit (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The word is a compound of ក្រូច (krouch), which means orange or citrus and ឆ្មា (chhma), which means cat.
How do you pronounce it?
krouch chhma
Did you know?
- In Cambodia, the 'lemon' used in traditional cooking is usually a small, fragrant lime. A true yellow lemon is often seen as a foreign import and may be called by a different descriptive name.
- In Khmer culture, citrus fruits like ក្រូចឆ្មា are frequently used in traditional medicine and home remedies to treat coughs and sore throats.
- The word ក្រូច serves as a root for many citrus fruits in Khmer. By adding different modifiers, speakers can specify everything from pomelos to tangerines using the same base word.
Examples in context
- ខ្ញុំចង់បានក្រូចឆ្មាមួយផ្លែ។khnom chong ban kroch chmā muoy phlae.I want one lemon.
- ក្រូចឆ្មាមានរសជាតិជូរខ្លាំង។kroch chmā mean roas cheat chu khlang.The lemon has a very sour taste.
- តើអ្នកមានក្រូចឆ្មាមែនទេ?tae neak mean kroch chmā men te?Do you have a lemon?
Example conversation
Chinda is asking Vipul to help her with a drink.
- វិបុល Vibolតើចិន្តាចង់បានអ្វី?tae chinda chong ban avei?What does Chinda want?
- ចិន្តា Chindaខ្ញុំត្រូវការក្រូចឆ្មាមួយ។khnom trov kar kroch chmā muoy.I need a lemon.
- វិបុល Vibolតើមានក្នុងផ្ទះទេ?tae mean knong pteah te?Is there any in the house?
- ចិន្តា Chindaខ្ញុំគិតថាមានក្នុងទូទឹកកក។khnom kit tha mean knong tou teuk kok.I think there is one in the fridge.
