Khmer Karaoke and the plethora of pronouns (or more than one way to say “I love you” to your husband)

“What does “mom” mean?”
“What does “golup” mean?”

Lately I have been watching Khmer Karaoke at home while poor Soeun is trying to concentrate on playing his computer game.

As the singers sing the words move on the screen so you can tell where they are up to. I try to read along to improve my language skills. When I see a word repeated that I don’t know I ask Soeun. It turns out that there are even more ways of saying “I” and “you” in Khmer language than I thought.

Usually when I say “I” or “me” I use the word “kynom”, but if I speak to my husband I use a different word “oeun”. In the language of songs/poetry I would use “golup” or “mom”. And for “you” when I’m talking to Soeun I usually say “bong”, but in poetry language it’s “reamra” or “preah ream bong”.

“Snaiha” also comes up a lot, its another word for “srolynm” which means love.

The students have been laughing at me, as I practise my new words. I’ve been calling Soeun “Reamra” , as it is only used in poetry it sounds funny to use it in everyday speech.