ស្រីស្បែកស
srey sbaek sar
The Khmer phrase for "white girl" is ស្រីស្បែកស (srey sbaek sar).
In Khmer, this phrase is used to describe a woman's complexion rather than her ethnicity, though it is frequently used to refer to Westerners or people of Caucasian descent.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of 'srey' (girl/woman), 'sbaek' (skin) and 'sar' (white).
How do you pronounce it?
srey sbaek sar
Did you know?
- In many Southeast Asian contexts, including Cambodia, having 'white skin' is often associated with higher social status because it suggests one has worked indoors rather than in the sun.
- While ស្រីស្បែកស describes skin color, Khmer has a separate, specific term បារាំង ('French') that is often used to refer to any Westerner regardless of their actual nationality.
- In traditional Khmer poetry and songs, fair skin is often compared to the color of jasmine flowers or pearls to emphasize beauty.
Examples in context
- នាងគឺជាស្រីស្បែកស។neang chea srey sbek sor.She is a white girl.
- ខ្ញុំចូលចិត្តស្រីស្បែកស។khnom chol chet srey sbek sor.I like white girls.
Example conversation
Ratanak and Sreyni are talking about a new student.
- រតនៈ Ratanakតើនាងជាស្រីស្បែកសមែនទេ?tae neang chea srey sbaek s maen te?Is she a white girl?
- ស្រីនី Sreynyបាទ នាងមកពីអឺរ៉ុប។bat neang mok pi europYes, she comes from Europe.
- រតនៈ Ratanakនាងស្អាតណាស់។neang s-at nahShe is very beautiful.
- ស្រីនី Sreynyខ្ញុំក៏គិតបែបនោះដែរ។khnhom ko kit baeb noh daeI think so too.
