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Miscellaneous Vowels. Where are they when we need them???
AAAAWWWHH!!!!!!.(screaming from the top of my lungs)
Don't worry I'm not crazy.
You'll scream too once you learn how to read KHMER.
Here is why; these vowels are so unpredictable. Khmer language has so many words and you'll hardly see these vowels in use.
I have been reading Khmer for 5 months now, and I've only counted 5 words I have read that uses these vowel.
"Yeah, Yeah --- there IS nothing to get upset about PICKLEFISH," you might said. Cuz' you just dunt be knowin'!!!
Wait until you start reading Khmer for awhile, and then when you come upon one of these vowel in a word and you forgot their sound. Ain't that a [insert any KHMER explicit word you know]!!
"PICKLEFISH. Where would I find the vowels in use," you might ask.
Well, from what my older brother told me, it is common in formal words or when somebody want to use fancy KHMER lingo; with BIG vocabulary. Like how Khmer actor or actress would talk in the Movies.
And you'll also find formal words, in your local Cambodian newspaper.
Or visit some of the online Khmer News
- not up yet
Wait don't go in the middle of my lesson. Wait until you know how to read KHMER!!
The last four vowels are used often than any other vowels in these lesson. I'll explain more below.
Starting from left to right ...
AY? | AI | OO | OAH | AOH | AOUH1 |
REUK2 | REUH3 | LEUK | LEUH4 |
- say "to give" in KHMER
- say "personality or style" in KHMER
- REUH is like the English word "OR". You have a choice. This OR that?
- say "to hear" in KHMER
Notice the last four vowels look so much the same except for the subscript. You're just going to have to familarize yourself with them.
NOTE: Please learn the phonic or sound for the vowels. The chart above is ONLY a guide for you to recall the vowel's sound.
Click to hear my older brother say the vowels.
WOAH! WOAH!! Back up. back up. I'm so confused.
"Huh? Man, I'm confused now. The vowel and the consonant look so much alike ... I dunno which si which anymore. awah I'm so confused!!," you might say.
Let me try to clear up your confusion.
The first two characters are the consonant, "KAR" and "DOR". (in red color)
The next three are the vowels for this lesson. (in green color)
Finally, you have the vowel from the previous lesson "OAH". (in blue). This is the vowel that sound like the word "father" in KHMER. say "father" in KHMER. See? Or just remember, "Your father have a hair-piece". Do you see that hair on top?
Let's go learn some VOWELs.
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Created on January 1,1999. Last modified 1/3/99
Copyright © 1999, Pok Khem . All rights reserved.
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