In English, the word "ever" is used in different ways, and its meaning can change depending on the context. Here’s how it translates and functions in Khmer, along with usage examples:
1. "Ever" = แិแแែแ (Negative) / แ្แាแ់ (Positive)
Used in questions or negative sentences to mean "at any time."
Khmer:
Positive: แ្แាแ់ (tloap) → "Have you ever...?"
Negative: แិแแែแ (min dael) → "Never"
Examples:
Have you ever been to Siem Reap?
→ แข្แแแ្แាแ់แแแៀแแាแแែแแฌแេ?
(Neak tloap mok Siem Reap der reu te?)I have never seen this before.
→ แ្แុំแិแแែแแើแแឿแแេះแីแុแแេ។
(Khnhom min dael kheun roeng nih pi mun te.)
2. "Ever" = แំแុแ (Superlative)
Used with superlatives (most, best, fastest) to mean "of all time."
Khmer: แំแុแ (bomphot)
Examples:
He is the most successful ever.
→ แាแ់แាแข្แแแោแแ័แแ្แាំแแាแแេแំแុแ។
(Kort chea neak jouk jey khlang cheang ke bomphot.)This is the best movie ever!
→ แេះแាแ្แែแាแแแ្แแ្แขแំแុแ!
(Nih chea khsa pheap yon la-or bomphot!)
3. "Ever" = แាแិแ ្แ (Forever / Always)
Used in phrases like "forever" or "always."
Khmer: แាแិแ ្แ (chea nich), แฅแกូแแแ់แขแាแแ (i-lov dol anakut)
Examples:
I will love you forever.
→ แ្แុំแឹแแ្แแាแ់แข្แแแាแិแ ្แ ។
(Khnhom nung sralanh neak chea nich.)
4. "Ever" = แ៏แោแ (Emphasis in Questions)
Used for emphasis in questions ("Why ever...?" / "How ever...?").
Khmer: แ េแុแข្แីแាแแា (het avey ban chea)
Example:
Why ever did you do that?
→ แ េแុแข្แីแាแแាแข្แแแ្แើแขីแ ឹแ?
(Het avey ban chea neak thvei ey cheng?)
Summary Table
| English | Khmer | Usage |
|---|---|---|
| Ever (question) | แ្แាแ់ | "Have you ever...?" |
| Never | แិแแែแ | "I have never..." |
| Ever (superlative) | แំแុแ | "Best ever" |
| Forever | แាแិแ ្แ | "Always" |
| Emphasis | แ េแុแข្แីแាแแា | "Why ever...?" |
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