ស
sɑɑ
The English word "white" is ស (sɑɑ) in Khmer.
The word ស can function as both a noun (the color white) and an adjective (white/bright) depending on the context.
Meaning: color (noun)
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
The romanization is sɑɑ.
Did you know?
- In Cambodian art, the color 'white' is often associated with the deity presence, subtly shifting the word's meaning from a mere color to a sacred attribute.
- In Cambodia, the color ស is often associated with purity and is frequently seen in the white robes worn by novice monks and candidates for ordination.
- The word ស is cognate with the Northern Khmer word ซอฺ, showing how the language evolved differently across the border into Thailand.
Examples in context
- ខ្ញុំចូលចិត្តពណ៌ស។khnhom chol chett poa sor.I like the color white.
- ឡាននេះមានពណ៌សស្អាត។lan nis mean poa sor sa'at.This car is a beautiful white.
Example conversation
At a clothing store, Mali and Narong are looking at shirts.
- ម៉ាលី Malyតើអាវនេះមានពណ៌សទេ?tae av nis mean poa sor te?Does this shirt come in white?
- ណារ៉ុង Narongបាទ មានពណ៌សដែរ។bat, mean poa sor dae.Yes, there is white too.
- ម៉ាលី Malyល្អណាស់ ខ្ញុំចង់បានពណ៌ស។la'or nah, khnhom chong ban poa sor.Great, I want the white one.
- ណារ៉ុង Narongតើអ្នកចង់បានទំហំប៉ុនណាដែរ?tae neak chong ban tumhum pon na dae?And what size would you like?
Sources
- Wiktionary, “white” translations and entries ស, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ស, CC BY-SA 4.0.
