ឯងធុំក្លិនស្អុយ
aeng thum klen sa-oy
The phrase "you stink" in Khmer is ឯងធុំក្លិនស្អុយ (aeng thum klen sa-oy).
This phrase is used to tell someone that their body or clothes have an unpleasant smell.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of ឯង (you), ធុំ (to smell/sense a smell), ក្លិន (smell/scent) and ស្អុយ (stinky/foul).
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Using the pronoun ឯង makes this phrase highly informal and potentially rude, suitable only between close friends or when insulting someone.
How does it change in a sentence?
The word ស្អុយ can be used as a standalone adjective to describe something that stinks.
How do you pronounce it?
aeng thum klen sa-oy
Did you know?
- While 'stink' is an insult in English, a Khmer speaker might use the word ស្អុយ to describe things that are not just smelly, but also morally corrupt or 'rotten' in character.
- If you were to say this to a monk or a person of high status, it would be considered one of the most offensive things a person could say in the language.
- The verb ធុំ actually refers to the ability to sense or perceive a smell rather than the smell itself.
Example conversation
Two friends are talking after a long day of playing sports.
- រតនៈ Ratanakចិន្តា ឯងធុំក្លិនស្អុយណាស់!Chinda, eng thum klen s-oy nah!Chinda, you stink so much!
- ចិន្តា Chindaមែនឬ? ខ្ញុំទើបតែលេងបាល់ចប់។men reu? khnhom teub tae leng bal chobReally? I just finished playing ball.
- រតនៈ Ratanakឯងគួរតែទៅងូតទឹកឥឡូវនេះ។eng kuor tae tov ngout teuk ey lov nisYou should go take a shower right now.
- ចិន្តា Chindaបាទ រតនៈ ខ្ញុំនឹងទៅងូតឥឡូវនេះ។bat, Rotanak, khnhom nung tov ngout ey lov nisYes, Rotanak, I will go shower now.
