ទៅ
tɨw
In Khmer, the word for "to" is ទៅ (tɨw).
The word ទៅ is versatile and can function as a verb meaning "to go" or as a particle that indicates direction. When placed at the end of an imperative sentence, it acts as a particle to complete a command, often adding a sense of direction like "go away" or "go do [something]".
Meaning: in the direction of, and arriving at (prep)
How does it change in a sentence?
Depending on the context, ទៅ can function as a verb meaning "to go" or as a particle used to indicate direction or to complete a command.
How do you pronounce it?
tɨw
Did you know?
- The Khmer word ទៅ is a distant relative of the Hokkien word 佇, which is used to mean 'to be at' or 'in'. This highlights how ancient connections between Southeast Asian and Chinese languages can link movement to position.
- The word ទៅ is so fundamental to movement that it is often used in common idiomatic expressions to describe moving through life stages, not just physical travel.
- The grammar of ទៅ allows it to function as a directional particle that indicates the flow of action away from the speaker.
Examples in context
- ចូលគេងទៅ!Go to bed!The example of ទៅ is useful for seeing how it functions in a command to go to bed.Tatoeba #11517238 by Vethya, translation #2436429 by Hybrid
- ទៅសាលារៀន។Go to school.The example of ទៅ is useful for showing the direction toward school.Tatoeba #4484389 by angkorsovannnaga, translation #21504 by CK
- ខ្ញុំចង់ទៅ។I want to go.The example of ទៅ is useful for expressing the desire to go.Tatoeba #4484417 by angkorsovannnaga, translation #1977717 by Spamster
- 19 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Vibol and Mali are planning their afternoon trip.
- ម៉ាលី Malyតើអ្នកចង់ទៅណា?tae neak chong tov na?Where do you want to go?
- វិបុល Vibolខ្ញុំចង់ទៅផ្សារ។khnom chong tov phsar.I want to go to the market.
- ម៉ាលី Malyតោះយើងទៅជាមួយគ្នា។toh yeung tov cheamuoy khnea.Let's go together.
- វិបុល Vibolបាទ ម៉ាលី។bat mali.Yes, Mali.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry ទៅ, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ទៅ, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
