ពេល
peel
The Khmer word for time is ពេល (peel).
ពេល is used to express the general concept of time, such as having or needing time or to refer to a specific moment or period of time.
Meaning: measurement of a quantity of time (noun)
Which one should you use?
While ពេល refers to time in a general sense, such as an occasion or a period, the word ម៉ោង is used when you are referring specifically to clock time or hours.
How does it change in a sentence?
ពេល is a noun that does not change its form to indicate pluralization in common usage.
How do you pronounce it?
peel
Did you know?
- While ពេល refers to general time, Khmer uses a completely different word, ម៉ោង, for clock hours, which is derived from the French word 'heure'.
- In Khmer, you can use ម៉ោង to mean 'hour', but it is also the standard way to refer to 'clock' or 'watch' itself.
- The word ពេល shares an ancient linguistic root with the Pali word velā, which is often used in Buddhist contexts to describe specific cosmic or seasonal periods.
Examples in context
- តើមានពេលទេ?Is there time?This sentence is useful for asking if there is any time available using ពេល.Tatoeba #4536372 by angkorsovannnaga, translation #2248503 by CK
- អត់មានពេល ។There's no time.This sentence is useful for stating that there is no time available using ពេល.Tatoeba #3941437 by angkorsovannnaga, translation #2252663 by CK
- ខ្ញុំមានពេល ។I have time.This sentence is useful for stating that you have time using ពេល.Tatoeba #4859592 by angkorsovannnaga, translation #2245901 by CK
- 2 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two colleagues are discussing a meeting schedule.
- វិបុល Vibolតើអ្នកមានពេលសម្រាប់ប្រជុំទេ?tae neak mean pel samrab pro-chum te?Do you have time for a meeting?
- ចិន្តា Chindaខ្ញុំមានពេលនៅម៉ោងពីរ។khnhom mean pel nov maong pi.I have time at two o'clock.
- វិបុល Vibolតើពេលនោះល្អសម្រាប់អ្នកទេ?tae pel noh l-or samrab neak te?Is that time good for you?
- ចិន្តា Chindaបាទ ពេលនោះល្អណាស់។bat pel noh l-or nah.Yes, that time is very good.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry ពេល, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ពេល, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
