Meanings

My favorite vocab in Khmer are those in which a series of words are strung together to create a colorful stand of new meaning. Some make perfect sense, not so unlike any other compound word. Some leave us baffled. Others are brilliant.

to like = "enter heart" (awww...)

salary = "silver month"

pencil = "black arm"

jeans = "cowboy pants"

boots = "skin/hide legs long neck"

pregnant = "have house stomach"

and our favorite

grape = bamboo rice sour