ក្រ
krɑɑ
The English word "poor" is translated into Khmer as ក្រ (krɑɑ).
ក្រ is an adjective used to describe someone who has few or no possessions or money.
Meaning: with few or no possessions or money (adj)
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is romanized as krɑɑ.
Did you know?
- The concept of being 'poor' in Khmer culture is often linked to 'kamma' or karma, where one's current lack of wealth is viewed as a result of past actions.
- While English speakers use 'poor' to describe a lack of quality, such as a 'poor performance', in Khmer, using ក្រ in this way would sound nonsensical and strictly imply a lack of money.
- When discussing the 'poor' in a formal or royal context, the language shifts to avoid ក្រ to maintain a level of linguistic decorum known as 'royal language'.
Examples in context
- គាត់គឺជាអ្នកក្រ។koat kue chea neak kro.He is a poor person.
- គ្រួសារនោះក្រណាស់។krou-sar noh kro nah.That family is very poor.
- កុំធ្វើបាបអ្នកក្រ។kom thveu bab neak kro.Do not mistreat poor people.
Example conversation
Vibol and Sokha are talking about a charity event.
- វិបុល Vibolយើងគួរជួយអ្នកក្រខ្លះ។yeung kuor chuoy neak kro khlah.We should help some poor people.
- សុខា Sokhaមែនហើយ វិបុល។men haey, Vibol.That's true, Vibol.
- វិបុល Vibolតើអ្នកមានគំនិតអ្វីទេ សុខា?tae neak mean kom-nit avei te, Sokha?Do you have any ideas, Sokha?
- សុខា Sokhaយើងអាចផ្តល់អាហារឱ្យពួកគេ។yeung ach phdol a-ha oy puok-ke.We can provide food for them.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “poor” translations and entries ក្រ, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
