ពពែឆ្កែ
popae chkae
The English word "stye" is ពពែឆ្កែ (popae chkae) in Khmer.
ពពែឆ្កែ is a noun used to describe a bacterial infection of the eyelash or eyelid.
Meaning: bacterial infection of the eyelash or eyelid (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase literally translates to "dog boil" or "dog pimple".
How do you pronounce it?
popae chkae
Did you know?
- Because the word ឆ្កែ for 'dog' can be used pejoratively in Khmer, calling a stye a 'dog boil' emphasizes the undesirable nature of the bump.
- The phrase ពពែឆ្កែ is a visual metaphor. It describes the specific appearance of the eyelid inflammation as resembling something associated with a dog.
- Khmer has a variety of different words for 'boil' that change based on which body part is affected and the quality of the inflammation.
Examples in context
- គាត់មាន ពពែឆ្កែ នៅភ្នែកខាងឆ្វេង។koat mien por-pae chkae nov phnek khang chveing.He has a stye in his left eye.
- តើវាជា ពពែឆ្កែ មែនទេ?tae vea chea por-pae chkae men te?Is it a stye?
Example conversation
Sreyney tells Vibol about her eye irritation.
- ស្រីនី Sreynyវិបុល មើលភ្នែកខ្ញុំ ខ្ញុំមានពពែឆ្កែ។Vibol, mer phnek khnhom, khnhom mean pope chkae.Vibol, look at my eye, I have a stye.
- វិបុល Vibolវាហើមខ្លាំងណាស់ ស្រីនី។vea haerm khlang nas, Sreyney.It is very swollen, Sreyney.
- ស្រីនី Sreynyតើខ្ញុំគួរធ្វើដូចម្តេចដើម្បីឱ្យវាបាត់?tae khnhom kuor thveu doch mdech dermbei oy vea bat?What should I do to make it go away?
- វិបុល Vibolអ្នកគួរតែទៅជួបគ្រូពេទ្យ។neak kuor tae tov chuob kru-phet.You should go see a doctor.
