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Languages of Cambodia

See language map.
[See also SIL publications on the languages of Cambodia.]

State of Cambodia. Formerly Kampuchea, Khmer Republic. 13,363,421. 12,601,706 or 94.3% speakers of Austro-Asiatic languages, 235,000 or 1.76% speakers of Austronesian languages. National or official language: Central Khmer. Literacy rate: 48% to 50%. Also includes Lao (17,000), Mandarin Chinese (350,000), Vietnamese (393,121). Information mainly from F. Lebar, G. Hickey, J. Musgrave 1964; D. Thomas and R. Headley 1970; S. Wurm and S. Hattori 1981. Blind population: 40,000 (1982 WCE). Deaf population: 622,366. The number of languages listed for Cambodia is 21. Of those, all are living languages.

Living languages

Brao	[brb] 5,286 in Cambodia (1980 Diffloth). Northeastern Cambodia on the Laos border, Ratanakiri Province. Alternate names: Braou, Proue, Brou, Love, Lave, Laveh. Classification: Austro-Asiatic, Mon-Khmer, Eastern Mon-Khmer, Bahnaric, West Bahnaric, Brao-Kravet More information.
Cham, Western	[cja] 220,000 in Cambodia (1992 govt. figure). Population total all countries: 253,100. Near the major cities and along the Mekong. Also spoken in Australia, France, Indonesia, Libya, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, Thailand, USA, Viet Nam, Yemen. Alternate names: Cambodian Cham, Tjam, Cham, New Cham. Dialects: The language differs somewhat from Eastern Cham of central Viet Nam. Classification: Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Malayic, Achinese-Chamic, Chamic, South, Coastal, Cham-Chru More information.
Chong	[cog] 5,000 in Cambodia. Population total all countries: 5,500. Thai-Cambodia border southeast of Chantaburi, Pursat Province. Also spoken in Thailand. Alternate names: Chawng, Shong, Xong. Dialects: Somray in Cambodia is a separate but related language. Classification: Austro-Asiatic, Mon-Khmer, Eastern Mon-Khmer, Pearic, Western, Chong More information.
English	[eng] Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, English More information.
French	[fra] Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western, Gallo-Iberian, Gallo-Romance, Gallo-Rhaetian, Oïl, French More information.
Jarai	[jra] 15,000 in Cambodia (1998). Ratanakiri Province, principally the districts of Bokeo, Andons, Meas, O Yadou, along northeast border near Viet Nam. Alternate names: Djarai, Gia-Rai, Jorai, Cho-Rai, Chor, Mthur, Chrai, Gio-Rai. Dialects: Puan, Hodrung (Hdrung), Jhue, Aráp, Habau (Ho-Bau), To-Buan, Sesan, Chuty, Pleikly, Golar. Classification: Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Malayic, Achinese-Chamic, Chamic, South, Plateau More information.
Kaco'	[xkk] 2,000 (1992 G. Diffloth). Ratanakiri Province. Alternate names: Kachah'. Dialects: Not intelligible to Tampuan speakers. Classification: Austro-Asiatic, Mon-Khmer, Eastern Mon-Khmer, Bahnaric, Central Bahnaric More information.
Khmer, Central	[khm] 12,110,065 in Cambodia (2004). Population total all countries: 13,276,639. Throughout the country. Also spoken in Canada, China, France, Laos, USA, Viet Nam. Alternate names: Khmer, Cambodian. Dialects: Distinct from Northern Khmer of Thailand. Classification: Austro-Asiatic, Mon-Khmer, Eastern Mon-Khmer, Khmer More information.
Kraol	[rka] 2,600 (1992 G. Diffloth). Kratie Province. Dialects: Not intelligible to Mnong speakers. Classification: Austro-Asiatic, Mon-Khmer, Eastern Mon-Khmer, Bahnaric, South Bahnaric, Sre-Mnong, Mnong, Southern-Central Mnong More information.
Kravet	[krv] 3,012 (1988 govt. figure). Northeastern Cambodia. Alternate names: Kowet, Khvek, Kavet. Classification: Austro-Asiatic, Mon-Khmer, Eastern Mon-Khmer, Bahnaric, West Bahnaric, Brao-Kravet More information.
Kru'ng 2	[krr] 9,368 (1982 G. Diffloth). Northeastern, Ratanakiri Province and eastern Stung Treng. Alternate names: Krueng. Dialects: Brao, Kravet, Krung 2 in Cambodia are inherently intelligible with each other. Classification: Austro-Asiatic, Mon-Khmer, Eastern Mon-Khmer, Bahnaric, West Bahnaric, Brao-Kravet More information.
Kuy	[kdt] 15,495 in Cambodia (1989). Northeastern Cambodia, most districts of Preah Vihear, eastern Siem Reap, northern Kampong Thom, western Stung Traeng, and several areas of Kratie Province. Alternate names: Kuay. Dialects: Kuy Antra, Kuy Anthua, Kuy May (Kuy Ma'ay), Kuy Mlor. Classification: Austro-Asiatic, Mon-Khmer, Eastern Mon-Khmer, Katuic, West Katuic, Kuay-Nheu More information.
Lamam	[lmm] 1,000 (1981 Wurm and Hattori). Near northeast corner on the Viet Nam border. Alternate names: Lmam. Dialects: Related to Bahnar, Tampuan, Alak 1. Classification: Austro-Asiatic, Mon-Khmer, Eastern Mon-Khmer, Bahnaric, Central Bahnaric More information.
Mnong, Central	[cmo] 20,000 in Cambodia (2002). Northeastern, 80% of Mondolkiri Province, all districts. Alternate names: Phong, Phnong, Bunong, Budong, Phanong. Dialects: Biat, Preh, Bu Nar, Bu Rung, Dih Bri, Bu Dang. Classification: Austro-Asiatic, Mon-Khmer, Eastern Mon-Khmer, Bahnaric, South Bahnaric, Sre-Mnong, Mnong, Southern-Central Mnong More information.
Pear	[pcb] 1,300 (1988 govt.). Southwestern, Kompong Thom. Alternate names: Por, Kompong Thom. Classification: Austro-Asiatic, Mon-Khmer, Eastern Mon-Khmer, Pearic, Eastern More information.
Samre	[sxm] 50 (2000 D. Bradley). Ethnic population: 200 (2000 D. Bradley). Just north of Siemreap. Dialects: Related to Sa'och, Suoy, Pear. Classification: Austro-Asiatic, Mon-Khmer, Eastern Mon-Khmer, Pearic, Western, Samre More information.
Sa'och	[scq] 500 (1981 Wurm and Hattori). Southwest near Kompong Som on the coast. Alternate names: Sauch, Saotch. Dialects: Related to Samre, Suoy, Pear. Classification: Austro-Asiatic, Mon-Khmer, Eastern Mon-Khmer, Pearic, Western, Chong More information.
Somray	[smu] 2,000 (1981 Wurm and Hattori). West; north, east, and west of Phum Tasanh, and Tanyong River around Phum Pra Moi; 2 areas. Dialects: Related to Chong. Classification: Austro-Asiatic, Mon-Khmer, Eastern Mon-Khmer, Pearic, Western, Samre More information.
Stieng, Bulo	[sti] 6,059 in Cambodia (2000 WCD). Eastern, Kratie Province, Snuol District, and southern Mondolkiri. Alternate names: Kajiang. Dialects: Budip, Bulo. Classification: Austro-Asiatic, Mon-Khmer, Eastern Mon-Khmer, Bahnaric, South Bahnaric, Stieng-Chrau More information.
Suoy	[syo] 200 (1981 Wurm and Hattori). Central, northwest of Phnom Penh. Dialects: Related to Sa'och, Samre, Pear. Classification: Austro-Asiatic, Mon-Khmer, Eastern Mon-Khmer, Pearic, Western, Suoy More information.
Tampuan	[tpu] 25,000 (1998). Northeast border area, south of Brao, west of Jarai, Central Ratanakiri Province. Alternate names: Tamphuan, Tampuen, Tampuon, Kha Tampuon, Campuon, Proon, Proons. Dialects: Related to Bahnar, Lamam, Alak 1, but geographically separated. Classification: Austro-Asiatic, Mon-Khmer, Eastern Mon-Khmer, Bahnaric, Central Bahnaric More information.

This web edition of the Ethnologue contains all the content of the print edition and may be cited as:
Gordon, Raymond G., Jr. (ed.), 2005. Ethnologue: Languages of the World, Fifteenth edition. Dallas, Tex.: SIL International. Online version: http://www.ethnologue.com/.

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