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Khmer Consonants Overview

Aug 7, 2025

Overview

This lecture introduces the primary consonants of the Khmer alphabet, listing each character and its romanized pronunciation to support foundational reading and writing skills.

Khmer Alphabet Consonants

  • Khmer script contains 33 consonant characters, each with its own sound.
  • Example consonants include: ka, kha, ko, kho, ngo, jaw, chaw, jo, cho, nyo.
  • More consonants: daw, thaw, do, tho, naw, tdaw, tdo, no.
  • Other important consonants: baw, paw, pbo, pho, mo, yo, ro, lo, vo, saw, ha, law, 'a.
  • Mastery of these consonants is essential for reading and writing in Khmer.

Practice and Study Tools

  • Flashcards and quizzes help reinforce recognition and recall of each consonant character.
  • Online tools such as Learn, Test, Blocks, and Match modes are available to aid practice.

Key Terms & Definitions

  • Consonant — A letter representing a basic sound in the Khmer script; there are 33 in total.
  • Romanization — The practice of writing the pronunciation of Khmer characters using the Latin alphabet.
  • Khmer Alphabet — The script used for writing the Khmer language, consisting of consonants, vowels, and dependent signs.

Action Items / Next Steps

  • Review and memorize all 33 Khmer consonant characters and their pronunciations.
  • Use flashcards or quiz tools to practice daily for retention.
  • Test yourself by writing out the consonants from memory.