For the next seven days, we will posting up different Khmer words to help you get more acquainted to Khmer language and culture. Each blog will be titled by its word in English.
Before we introduce today's word, here's a little background on the Khmer language:
As the official language of Cambodian , Khmer has been influenced by neighboring languages and forms of writing particularly Thai, Lao and Vietnamese. Yet it differs from these languages in that it is not a tonal language. Like many other aspects of Khmer culture it also holds much Hindu and Buddhist contributions. Furthermore the Khmer script is called an abugida (in English) or Aksar Khmer (in Khmer)
Today's word is kruesa (crew-ess-AH) which means FAMILY. The brutality and violent means of the Khmer Rouge separated and disintegrate many Cambodian families. Even so Cambodians have found much strength in their family units making the word FAMILY powerful in the Khmer language.
Before we introduce today's word, here's a little background on the Khmer language:
As the official language of Cambodian , Khmer has been influenced by neighboring languages and forms of writing particularly Thai, Lao and Vietnamese. Yet it differs from these languages in that it is not a tonal language. Like many other aspects of Khmer culture it also holds much Hindu and Buddhist contributions. Furthermore the Khmer script is called an abugida (in English) or Aksar Khmer (in Khmer)
Today's word is kruesa (crew-ess-AH) which means FAMILY. The brutality and violent means of the Khmer Rouge separated and disintegrate many Cambodian families. Even so Cambodians have found much strength in their family units making the word FAMILY powerful in the Khmer language.
1 comment:
Thanks for posting this, I was looking for the Khmer word for family today and found this page.
Your topic is very close to my heart as I adopted to Khmer boys as babies, they are now 12 & 14.
I am now starting a DNA cousins project among the 2600 children adopted to the US before 2002. The goal is to find cousins from this group so they have proven family members if the relationships can be found by this new DNA test. I hope to also test the former refugees in the US to help build the database always with the goal of finding cousin connections for the participants. The Khmer people are still a fractured people and agonise over those that they lost thru death and not being found. The national loss of community still hinders its government and society 40 years later. I would love to talk to you about your group. kari dot lemons at gmail dot com
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