មាត់
mŏət
The English word "mouth" is translated into Khmer as មាត់ (mŏət).
មាត់ refers to the opening of a creature through which food is ingested.
Meaning: the opening of a creature through which food is ingested (noun)
How do you pronounce it?
The romanization is mŏət.
Did you know?
- The word មាត់ actually started its life meaning 'eye' in Proto-Austroasiatic. Over thousands of years, the meaning shifted from 'eye' to 'face' and finally to 'mouth'.
- In Khmer culture, a 'sweet mouth' មាត់ផ្អែម is a common expression used to describe someone who is charming or flattering in their speech.
- Khmer speakers use the word មាត់ to describe the 'mouth' or 'entrance' of non-living things, such as the mouth of a river or a cave.
Examples in context
- គាត់មានមាត់ធំ។koat mien moat thom.He has a big mouth.
- ក្មេងនោះមានមាត់តូច។kmeng noh mien moat touch.That baby has a small mouth.
Example conversation
Ratan is telling Chinda to open her mouth for a doctor's check-up.
- រតនៈ Ratanakចិន្តា សូមបើកមាត់។Chinda som beuk moatChinda, please open your mouth.
- ចិន្តា Chindaខ្ញុំបើកមាត់ហើយ។khnhom beuk moat haeyI already opened my mouth.
- រតនៈ Ratanakបើកមាត់ឱ្យធំជាងនេះបន្តិច។beuk moat oy thom cheang nih bon tichOpen your mouth a little wider than this.
- ចិន្តា Chindaអូ៎ យល់ហើយ។oh yol haeyOh, I understand.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “mouth” translations and entries មាត់, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries មាត់, CC BY-SA 4.0.
