ខោ
khao
The English word "pants" is translated to Khmer as ខោ (khao).
ខោ is a noun used to refer to a garment that covers the body from the waist downwards.
Meaning: garment covering the body from the waist downwards (noun)
How do you pronounce it?
khao
Did you know?
- The word ខោ actually traces its roots back to Chinese, specifically the Hokkien or Teochew dialects, rather than being an indigenous Khmer word.
- In Cambodia, traditional dress for women often involves the សំពត់ (sampot), which is a wrap-around skirt rather than ខោ.
- Khmer uses a specific classifier word when counting ខោ, meaning you do not just say 'two pants' but 'two pairs of pants'.
Examples in context
- ខ្ញុំរាគនោមដាក់ខោ ។I peed my pants.This sentence is useful for expressing that someone has wet their ខោ.Tatoeba #4584799 by angkorsovannnaga, translation #4584800 by ddnktr
- ខ្ញុំចង់ទិញខោថ្មីមួយ។khnhom chong tinh kho thmey muoy.I want to buy a new pair of pants.
- ខោនេះមានពណ៌ខៀវស្អាតណាស់។kho nih mean poa khiev s'at nah.These pants are a very beautiful blue color.
Example conversation
Two friends are talking about clothes for a party.
- វិបុល Vibolវិបុល៖ តើអ្នកនឹងស្លៀកខោពណ៌អ្វី?tae neak neng sleak khao poa ey?What color pants will you wear?
- ស្រីនី Sreynyស្រីនី៖ ខ្ញុំនឹងស្លៀកខោពណ៌ខ្មៅ។khnhom neng sleak khao poa khmao.I will wear black pants.
- វិបុល Vibolវិបុល៖ ពណ៌នោះមើលទៅស្អាតណាស់។poa noh muel tov saat nah.That color looks very nice.
- ស្រីនី Sreynyស្រីនី៖ ចុះអ្នកវិញ?choh neak vinh?How about you?
Sources
- Wiktionary, “pants” translations and entries ខោ, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ខោ, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
