Khmer

Also known as Khmer language, Cambodian language, Central Khmer

Austroasiatic language of Cambodia

AI overview

Khmer is the main language spoken in Cambodia, belonging to a broader language family called Austroasiatic. It matters because it is the primary means of communication for millions of Cambodians and represents an important part of Cambodia's cultural and national identity.

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Wikidata facts

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Wikimedia language code: km
Commons category: Khmer language
native label: ខ្មែរ
exact match: publications.europa.eu/resource/authority/language/KHM
P10369: mathematics
number of speakers, writers, or signers: 1000000
P13311: Daniel Mahrer

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Article

Khmer (/kəˈmɛər/ kə-MAIR; ខ្មែរ, UNGEGN: Khmêr [kʰmae]) is an Austroasiatic language spoken natively by the Khmer people and is an official language and national language of Cambodia. The language is also widely spoken by Khmer people in Eastern Thailand and Isan, Thailand, as well as in the Southeastern and Mekong regions of Vietnam.

Khmer has been influenced considerably by Sanskrit and Pali especially in the royal and religious registers, through Hinduism and Buddhism, due to Old Khmer being the language of the historical empires of Chenla and Angkor.