Khmer or Thai?

May 14, 2008 by admin 

Should i learn Khmer or Thai?

If you are not already speaking a language that is related to either one, then Khmer is easier because it is not tonal. Thai can be difficult because the different pitch of the same sound can have different meanings. You have to speak Thai with a firm and consistent pitch to say the word that you want. However, there are many westerners who can speak pretty good Thai.
Khmer also has some similar grammar to English such as subject-verb-object.
Please be sure to read the last reference. I guess overall it might be easier to learn Thai because it seems to be more logical.
I would try both and see which one you like and have more fun learning.
Good luck or Choke Dee

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6 Responses to “Khmer or Thai?”

  1. Tom T on September 29th, 2008 1:10 am

    That depends on whether you plan to visit Thailand or Cambodia. There are of course many more Thai speakers ( 60 to 65 million) than Khmer speakers (15 – 25 million) so you may want to take that into account as well.
    References :
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thai_language, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khmer_language

  2. Totsakan on September 29th, 2008 1:57 am

    If you are not already speaking a language that is related to either one, then Khmer is easier because it is not tonal. Thai can be difficult because the different pitch of the same sound can have different meanings. You have to speak Thai with a firm and consistent pitch to say the word that you want. However, there are many westerners who can speak pretty good Thai.
    Khmer also has some similar grammar to English such as subject-verb-object.
    Please be sure to read the last reference. I guess overall it might be easier to learn Thai because it seems to be more logical.
    I would try both and see which one you like and have more fun learning.
    Good luck or Choke Dee
    References :
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thai_language
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khmer_language
    http://www.geocities.com/tomslearningkhmer/
    http://www.talesofasia.com/rs-113-khmer.htm

  3. lilkrazykambo34 on September 29th, 2008 2:21 am

    Khmer, because im Khmer ;)
    References :

  4. mei_mei on September 29th, 2008 2:54 am

    Thai is very simple and funny to learn!
    Khmer is too… fast and don't know what…

    Bunda Bai!
    References :

  5. Lisa M on September 29th, 2008 3:19 am

    You should learn Thai.
    References :

  6. timmy on September 29th, 2008 3:53 am

    thai- you'll use it more, i learned thai and i love it!!!
    References :

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