ខែ
khae
The Khmer word for month is ខែ (khae).
The word ខែ is used to refer to a calendar month, which is a period into which a year is divided. It is also the word used for the celestial moon.
Meaning: period into which a year is divided (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The word ខែ literally means moon.
Which one should you use?
While ខែ is the general word for month, if you want to specify a particular month by its number, such as 'the first month', you should use the structure ខែទី… followed by the number.
How does it change in a sentence?
To indicate a specific month in a sequence, use the structure ខែទី… (khae ti…) followed by the number of the month.
How do you pronounce it?
khae
Did you know?
- In Cambodia, traditional dates are often tracked by the lunar calendar, meaning a 'month' may not align with the Gregorian calendar used in the West.
- Because ខែ refers to the moon, the Khmer language uses a different word, ព្រះច័ន្ទ, when referring to the moon as a deity or in a formal astronomical context.
- The word ខែ descends from the Proto-Austroasiatic root *khe(ː)ʔ, which has been used by various ethnic groups for thousands of years.
Examples in context
- ខ្ញុំមកទីនេះបានមួយខែហើយ។khnhom mok ti nis ban mouy khae haey.I have been here for one month.
- ខែនេះមមាញឹកខ្លាំងណាស់។khae nis momeanhik khlang nah.This month is very busy.
- តើអ្នកមានពេលនៅខែក្រោយទេ?tae neak mien pel nov khae kroy te?Do you have time next month?
Example conversation
Two friends are discussing a planned trip.
- សុខ Sokតើអ្នកចង់ទៅលេងខែណា?tae neak chong tov leng khae na?Which month do you want to visit?
- ស្រីនី Sreynyខ្ញុំចង់ទៅខែធ្នូ។khnhom chong tov khae thnu.I want to go in December.
- សុខ Sokខែធ្នូអាកាសធាតុត្រជាក់ណាស់។khae thnu akasheat trokeak nah.The weather is very cold in December.
- ស្រីនី Sreynyហ្នឹងហើយ ទើបខ្ញុំចូលចិត្តខែហ្នឹង។neng haey teub khnhom chol chett khae neng.That's why I like that month.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “month” translations and entries ខែ, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ខែ, CC BY-SA 4.0.
