Khmer etymology

Etymology and Origin:

"Khmer" is an endonym that originated from the ancient Sanskrit term "Kambuja," which denoted the Khmer Empire (802-1431 CE). The term "Kambuja" itself likely derives from the name of a semi-legendary ancestor of the Khmer kings, Kambu Svayambhuva.

Meaning:

The exact meaning of "Khmer" remains uncertain, but several theories exist:

• Son of the Brahmin: In Hindu legend, Kambu Svayambhuva was born from the union of a hermit and a celestial maiden, suggesting that "Khmer" might mean "son of the Brahmin."
• People of the Land: Some scholars believe that "Khmer" could translate to "the people of the land," referring to the Khmer's deep connection to their territory.
• Reddish Brown: The word "mer" (pronounced "mur") in Old Khmer meant "reddish brown," which could indicate that "Khmer" referred to the dark skin color of the Khmer people.
• Indian Descent: Another theory suggests that "Khmer" might derive from an Indian term meaning "Indian-born." This is based on the presence of Indian influences in Khmer culture and the migration of some Indians to the Khmer Empire.

Usage and Identity:

Today, "Khmer" is used primarily to refer to:

• The Khmer people, who are an ethnic group native to Cambodia.
• The Khmer language, which is the official language of Cambodia and is also spoken by Khmer communities in Thailand, Laos, and Vietnam.
• The ancient Khmer Empire, which was a powerful maritime and trading kingdom in Southeast Asia.

The term "Khmer" encapsulates the identity, language, history, and cultural heritage of the Cambodian people, serving as a symbol of their unique and enduring civilization.

Khmer relate terms

• rouge

  Etymology and Origin Rouge comes from the Old French word rouge which means red T

• wait

  Etymology Old English wæht Proto Germanic wahti Proto Indo European weh t woh t

• legend

  Etymology of Legend The word legend has an interesting etymological history Latin

• reckon

  Etymology Middle English reknen from Old English reccan Proto West Germanic rakōn

• perfection

  Etymology From Latin perfectionem state of being complete finished or flawless

• scruple

  Etymology Middle English scropele scropil from Old French escrupule escrople from L

• vacuum

  Etymology The word vacuum originates from the Latin word vacuus meaning empty or

• mollycoddle

  Etymology Mollycoddle is ultimately derived from the Old Irish feminine name Muirgel

• club

  Etymology The word club comes from the Old English word clubbe which originally ref

• prose

  Etymology The word prose originates from the Latin word prosa which itself derives

• cirrhosis

  Etymology The word cirrhosis comes from the Greek word κίρρωσις kirrhōsis w