ស្វា
svaa
The English word "monkey" is translated into Khmer as ស្វា (svaa).
ស្វា refers to the primate or monkey.
Meaning: primate (noun)
How does it change in a sentence?
When you want to specify that you are referring to the monkey as an animal species, the word ស្វា is often preceded by the noun សត្វ (animal) to form សត្វស្វា (animal monkey).
How do you pronounce it?
svaa
Did you know?
- In Cambodian folklore and traditional beliefs, monkeys are often associated with the deity Hanuman, the powerful monkey general from the Ramayana, which is known in Cambodia as the Reamker.
- In Cambodian art and architecture, especially in the bas-reliefs of Angkor Wat, the ស្វា is frequently depicted as a loyal soldier in the army of Rama.
- In some colloquial contexts, calling someone a ស្វា can imply they are mischievous or clever in a tricky way, similar to the English use of 'monkeying around'.
Examples in context
- ស្វាឃើញ ស្វាធ្វើ។Monkey see, monkey do.Tatoeba #11486143 by Vethya, translation #53939 by CM
- សត្វស្វាបានចុះក្រោម។The monkey came down.Tatoeba #11486142 by Vethya, translation #53937 by CM
- ខ្ញុំឃើញស្វានៅក្នុងព្រៃ។khnhom kheunh sva knong prey.I saw a monkey in the forest.
Example conversation
Vibol and Mali are at the zoo.
- វិបុល Vibolមើលស្វានោះចុះ!merl sva noh choh!Look at that monkey!
- ម៉ាលី Malyវាគួរឱ្យស្រឡាញ់ណាស់។vea kuor oy srolanh nah.It is very cute.
- វិបុល Vibolស្វានេះឆ្លាតណាស់។sva nih chlat nah.This monkey is very smart.
- ម៉ាលី Malyពិតមែនហើយ វិបុល។pit men haey, Vibol.That's true, Vibol.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “monkey” translations and entries ស្វា, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
