View source for Khmer script

{{Short description|Abugida script for the Khmer language}}
{{Infobox Writing system
|name      = Khmer
|altname   = Cambodian
|official script = [[Cambodia]]<ref name="constitution">{{cite web |title=Constitution of the Kingdom of Cambodia |url=https://pressocm.gov.kh/en/archives/9539 |website=Office of the Council of Ministers|publisher=អង្គ់ភាពព័ត៌មាន និងប្រតិកម្មរហ័ស |access-date=26 September 2020}}</ref>
|languages = {{hlist|[[Khmer language|Khmer]]|[[Sanskrit]]|[[Pali]]|[[Jarai language|Jarai]]|[[Northern Khmer dialect|Northern Khmer]]}}
|type      = [[Abugida]]
|time      = {{circa|611}} – present<ref>{{cite book| title=South-East Asia: languages and literatures : a select guide | first=Patricia | last=Herbert |author2=Anthony Crothers Milner  | pages=51–52 | year= 1989| isbn=0-8248-1267-0| publisher=[[University of Hawaii Press]]}}</ref>
| fam1        = [[Egyptian hieroglyphs|Egyptian]]
| fam2        = [[Proto-Sinaitic]]
| fam3        = [[Phoenician script|Phoenician]]
| fam4        = [[Aramaic script|Aramaic]]
| fam5        = [[Brahmi script]]
|fam6      = [[Tamil-Brahmi]]
|fam7      = [[Pallava script|Pallava]]
|sisters   = [[Old Mon script|Old Mon]], [[Cham script|Cham]], [[Kawi script|Kawi]], [[Grantha script|Grantha]], [[Tamil script|Tamil]]
|children  =[[Sukhothai script|Sukhothai]], [[Khom Thai script|Khom Thai]], [[Lai Tay script|Lai Tay]]
|unicode   = {{ublist |class=nowrap |[https://www.unicode.org/charts/PDF/U1780.pdf U+1780–U+17FF] {{smaller|Khmer}} |[https://www.unicode.org/charts/PDF/U19E0.pdf U+19E0–U+19FF] {{smaller|Khmer Symbols}}}}
|iso15924=Khmr
|sample    = Khmer_sample_script.svg
|caption   = {{transliteration|km|Âkkhârôkrâm Khmêr}} ("Khmer script") written in Khmer script
}}
{{Contains special characters|Khmer}}
{{brahmic}}
{{alphabet}}

'''Khmer script''' ({{langx|km|អក្សរខ្មែរ}}, {{transliteration|km|Âksâr Khmêr}} {{IPA|km|ʔaksɑː kʰmae|}})<ref name="Huffman">Huffman, Franklin. 1970. ''Cambodian System of Writing and Beginning Reader''. [[Yale University Press]]. {{ISBN|0-300-01314-0}}.</ref> is an [[abugida]] (alphasyllabary) script used to write the [[Khmer language]], the official language of [[Cambodia]]. It is also used to write [[Pali]] in the Buddhist liturgy of Cambodia and [[Thailand]].

Khmer is written from [[left to right]]. Words within the same sentence or phrase are generally run together with no [[space (punctuation)|space]]s between them. [[Consonant cluster]]s within a word are "stacked", with the second (and occasionally third) consonant being written in reduced form under the main consonant. Originally there were 35 consonant characters, but modern Khmer uses only 33. Each character represents a consonant sound together with an [[inherent vowel]], either ''â'' or ''ô''; in many cases, in the absence of another vowel mark, the inherent vowel is to be pronounced after the consonant.

There are some independent [[vowel]] characters, but vowel sounds are more commonly represented as dependent vowels, additional marks accompanying a consonant character, and indicating what vowel sound is to be pronounced after that consonant (or consonant cluster). Most dependent vowels have two different pronunciations, depending in most cases on the inherent vowel of the consonant to which they are added. There are also a number of [[diacritic]]s used to indicate further modifications in pronunciation. The script also includes its own [[numerical digit|numerals]] and [[punctuation mark]]s.

==Origin==
[[File:AncientKhmerScript.jpg|thumb|Ancient Khmer script engraved on stone]]
[[File:Lolei (5).JPG|thumb|An inscription in Khmer script, at the temple of [[Lolei]]]]

The Khmer script was adapted from the [[Pallava script]], used in southern India and Southeast Asia during the 5th and 6th centuries AD,<ref>Punnee Soonthornpoct: ''From Freedom to Hell: A History of Foreign Interventions in Cambodian Politics And Wars.'' Page 29. [[Vantage Press]].</ref> which ultimately descended from the [[Tamil-Brahmi]] script.<ref>Handbook of Literacy in Akshara Orthography, R. Malatesha Joshi, Catherine McBride(2019), p.28</ref> The oldest dated [[Khmer inscription]] was found at [[Angkor Borei District]] in [[Takéo Province]] south of Phnom Penh and dates from 611.<ref>Russell R. Ross: ''Cambodia: A Country Study''. Page 112. Library of Congress, USA, Federal Research Division, 1990.</ref> Stelae of the Pre-Angkorean and Angkorean periods, featuring the Khmer script, have been found throughout the former [[Khmer Empire]], from the [[Mekong Delta]] to what is now southern [[Laos]], [[Northeast Thailand]], and [[Central Thailand]].<ref>{{cite thesis |last1=Lowman |first1=Ian Nathaniel |title=The Descendants of Kambu: The Political Imagination of Angkorian Cambodia |date=2011 |publisher=UC Berkeley |url=https://escholarship.org/uc/item/06j1b9tp}}</ref> Slight differences can be seen between ancient Khmer inscriptions written in Sanskrit and those written in Khmer. These two different systems have evolved into the modern {{transliteration|km|âksâr mul}} and {{transliteration|km|âksâr chriĕng}} styles of Khmer script. The former is used for sacred inscriptions while the latter is used for general use.<ref>{{citation |title=Angkor: A Living Museum |date=2002 |page=39}}</ref> The {{transliteration|km|âksâr chriĕng}} style is a cursive form of {{transliteration|km|âksâr mul}}, adapted to fit the Khmer language.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Jensen |first1=Hans |title=Sign, symbol and script: an account of man's efforts to write |date=1970 |page=392}}</ref>

The modern Khmer script differs somewhat from precedent forms seen on the inscriptions of the ruins of [[Angkor]]. The [[Thai alphabet|Thai]] and [[Lao script|Lao]] scripts are descendants of an older cursive form of the Khmer script, through the [[Sukhothai script]].

== Consonants ==
There are 35 Khmer [[consonant]] symbols, although modern Khmer only uses 33, two having become obsolete. Each consonant has an [[inherent vowel]]: ''â'' {{IPA|/ɑː/}} or ''ô'' {{IPA|/ɔː/}}; equivalently, each consonant is said to belong to the ''a''-series or ''o''-series. A consonant's series determines the pronunciation of the [[#Dependent vowels|dependent vowel]] symbols which may be attached to it, and in some positions the sound of the inherent vowel is itself pronounced.

The two series originally represented [[voiceless consonant|voiceless]] and [[voiced consonant|voiced]] consonants respectively (and are still referred to as such in Khmer). [[Sound change]]s during the [[Middle Khmer]] period affected vowels following voiceless consonants, and these changes were preserved even though the distinctive voicing was lost {{xref|(see: {{slink|Khmer language|Phonation and tone}})}}.

Each consonant, with one exception, also has a subscript form. These may also be called "sub-consonants"; the Khmer phrase is {{lang|km|ជើងអក្សរ}} ''{{transliteration|km|cheung âksâr}}'', meaning "foot of a letter". Most subscript consonants resemble the corresponding consonant symbol, but in a smaller and possibly simplified form, although in a few cases there is no obvious resemblance. Most subscript consonants are written directly below other consonants, although subscript ''{{transliteration|km|r}}'' appears to the left, while a few others have ascending elements which appear to the right.

Subscripts are used in writing [[consonant cluster]]s (consonants pronounced consecutively in a word with no vowel sound between them). Clusters in Khmer normally consist of two consonants, although occasionally in the middle of a word there will be three. The first consonant in a cluster is written using the main consonant symbol, with the second (and third, if present) attached to it in subscript form. Subscripts were previously also used to write final consonants; in modern Khmer this may be done, optionally, in some words ending ''-ng'' or ''-y'', such as {{lang|km|ឲ្យ}} ''{{transliteration|km|aôy}}'' ("give").

The consonants and their subscript forms are listed in the following table. Usual phonetic values are given using the [[International Phonetic Alphabet]] (IPA); variations are described below the table. The sound system is described in detail at [[Khmer phonology]]. The spoken [[letter name|name]] of each consonant letter is its value together with its inherent vowel. Transliterations are given using the transcription system of the ''Geographic Department of the Cambodian Ministry of Land Management and Urban Planning'' used by the Cambodian government and the [[UNGEGN]] system;<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date= |title=Geographical Names of the Kingdom of Cambodia |url=https://unstats.un.org/unsd/geoinfo/UNGEGN/docs/8th-uncsgn-docs/inf/8th_UNCSGN_econf.94_INF.30_corr1.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230508214101/https://unstats.un.org/unsd/geoinfo/UNGEGN/docs/8th-uncsgn-docs/inf/8th_UNCSGN_econf.94_INF.30_corr1.pdf |archive-date=May 8, 2023 |access-date= |website=}} ''Reports by Governments on the Situation in Their Countries and on the Progress Made in the Standardization of Geographical Names Since the Seventh Conference.'' Eighth United Nations Conference on the Standardization of Geographical Names. Berlin, 27 August-5 September 2002. Item 4 of the provisional agenda.</ref><ref name=un>[http://www.eki.ee/wgrs/rom1_km.pdf Report on the Current Status of United Nations Romanization Systems for Geographical Names – Khmer], UNGEGN Working Group on Romanization Systems, September 2013 (linked from [http://www.eki.ee/wgrs/ WGRS website]).</ref> for other systems see [[Romanization of Khmer]].

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
! rowspan="2" | Consonant
! rowspan="2" | Subscript <br/>form
! colspan="4" | Name/Full value (with inherent vowel)
! colspan="4" | Consonant value
|-
! [[Romanization of Khmer#UNGEGN|UNGEGN]]
! [[Romanization of Khmer#Geographic Department|GD]]
! [[Romanization of Khmer#ALA-LC Romanization Tables|ALA-LC]]
! [[International Phonetic Alphabet|IPA]]
! UNGEGN
! GD
! ALA-LC
! IPA
|-
| <big>{{lang|km|ក}}</big>
| <big>{{lang|km|្ក}}</big>
| {{transliteration|km|kâ}}
| {{transliteration|km|ka}}
| {{transliteration|km|ka}}
| {{IPA|[kɑː]}}
| {{transliteration|km|k}}
| {{transliteration|km|k}}
| {{transliteration|km|k}}
| {{IPA|[k]}}
|-
| <big>{{lang|km|ខ}}</big>
| <big>{{lang|km|្ខ}}</big>
| {{transliteration|km|khâ}}
| {{transliteration|km|kha}}
| {{transliteration|km|kha}}
| {{IPA|[kʰɑː]}}
| {{transliteration|km|kh}}
| {{transliteration|km|kh}}
| {{transliteration|km|kh}}
| {{IPA|[kʰ]}}
|-
| <big>{{lang|km|គ}}</big>
| <big>{{lang|km|្គ}}</big>
| {{transliteration|km|kô}}
| {{transliteration|km|ko}}
| {{transliteration|km|ga}}
| {{IPA|[kɔː]}}
| {{transliteration|km|k}}
| {{transliteration|km|k}}
| {{transliteration|km|g}}
| {{IPA|[k]}}
|-
| <big>{{lang|km|ឃ}}</big>
| <big>{{lang|km|្ឃ}}</big>
| {{transliteration|km|khô}}
| {{transliteration|km|kho}}
| {{transliteration|km|gha}}
| {{IPA|[kʰɔː]}}
| {{transliteration|km|kh}}
| {{transliteration|km|kh}}
| {{transliteration|km|gh}}
| {{IPA|[kʰ]}}
|-
| <big>{{lang|km|ង}}</big>
| <big>{{lang|km|្ង}}</big>
| {{transliteration|km|ngô}}
| {{transliteration|km|ngo}}
| {{transliteration|km|nga}}
| {{IPA|[ŋɔː]}}
| {{transliteration|km|ng}}
| {{transliteration|km|ng}}
| {{transliteration|km|ng}}
| {{IPA|[ŋ]}}
|-
| <big>{{lang|km|ច}}</big>
| <big>{{lang|km|្ច}}</big>
| {{transliteration|km|châ}}
| {{transliteration|km|cha}}
| {{transliteration|km|ca}}
| {{IPA|[cɑː]}}
| {{transliteration|km|ch}}
| {{transliteration|km|ch}}
| {{transliteration|km|c}}
| {{IPA|[c]}}
|-
| <big>{{lang|km|ឆ}}</big>
| <big>{{lang|km|្ឆ}}</big>
| {{transliteration|km|chhâ}}
| {{transliteration|km|chha}}
| {{transliteration|km|cha}}
| {{IPA|[cʰɑː]}}
| {{transliteration|km|chh}}
| {{transliteration|km|chh}}
| {{transliteration|km|ch}}
| {{IPA|[cʰ]}}
|-
| <big>{{lang|km|ជ}}</big>
| <big>{{lang|km|្ជ}}</big>
| {{transliteration|km|chô}}
| {{transliteration|km|cho}}
| {{transliteration|km|ja}}
| {{IPA|[cɔː]}}
| {{transliteration|km|ch}}
| {{transliteration|km|ch}}
| {{transliteration|km|j}}
| {{IPA|[c]}}
|-
| <big>{{lang|km|ឈ}}</big>
| <big>{{lang|km|្ឈ}}</big>
| {{transliteration|km|chhô}}
| {{transliteration|km|chho}}
| {{transliteration|km|jha}}
| {{IPA|[cʰɔː]}}
| {{transliteration|km|chh}}
| {{transliteration|km|chh}}
| {{transliteration|km|jh}}
| {{IPA|[cʰ]}}
|-
| <big>{{lang|km|ញ}}</big>
| <big>{{lang|km|្ញ}}</big>
| {{transliteration|km|nhô}}
| {{transliteration|km|nho}}
| {{transliteration|km|ña}}
| {{IPA|[ɲɔː]}}
| {{transliteration|km|nh}}
| {{transliteration|km|nh}}
| {{transliteration|km|ñ}}
| {{IPA|[ɲ]}}
|-
| <big>{{lang|km|ដ}}</big>
| <big>{{lang|km|្ដ}}</big>
| {{transliteration|km|dâ}}
| {{transliteration|km|da}}
| {{transliteration|km|ṭa}}
| {{IPA|[ɗɑː]}}
| {{transliteration|km|d}}
| {{transliteration|km|d}}
| {{transliteration|km|ṭ}}
| {{IPA|[ɗ]}}
|-
| <big>{{lang|km|ឋ}}</big>
| <big>{{lang|km|្ឋ}}</big>
| {{transliteration|km|thâ}}
| {{transliteration|km|tha}}
| {{transliteration|km|ṭha}}
| {{IPA|[tʰɑː]}}
| {{transliteration|km|th}}
| {{transliteration|km|th}}
| {{transliteration|km|ṭh}}
| {{IPA|[tʰ]}}
|-
| <big>{{lang|km|ឌ}}</big>
| <big>{{lang|km|្ឌ}}</big>
| {{transliteration|km|dô}}
| {{transliteration|km|do}}
| {{transliteration|km|ḍa}}
| {{IPA|[ɗɔː]}}
| {{transliteration|km|d}}
| {{transliteration|km|d}}
| {{transliteration|km|ḍ}}
| {{IPA|[ɗ]}}
|-
| <big>{{lang|km|ឍ}}</big>
| <big>{{lang|km|្ឍ}}</big>
| {{transliteration|km|thô}}
| {{transliteration|km|tho}}
| {{transliteration|km|ḍha}}
| {{IPA|[tʰɔː]}}
| {{transliteration|km|th}}
| {{transliteration|km|th}}
| {{transliteration|km|ḍh}}
| {{IPA|[tʰ]}}
|-
| <big>{{lang|km|ណ}}</big>
| <big>{{lang|km|្ណ}}</big>
| {{transliteration|km|nâ}}
| {{transliteration|km|na}}
| {{transliteration|km|ṇa}}
| {{IPA|[nɑː]}}
| {{transliteration|km|n}}
| {{transliteration|km|n}}
| {{transliteration|km|ṇ}}
| {{IPA|[n]}}
|-
| <big>{{lang|km|ត}}</big>
| <big>{{lang|km|្ត}}</big>
| {{transliteration|km|tâ}}
| {{transliteration|km|ta}}
| {{transliteration|km|ta}}
| {{IPA|[tɑː]}}
| {{transliteration|km|t}}
| {{transliteration|km|t}}
| {{transliteration|km|t}}
| {{IPA|[t]}}
|-
| <big>{{lang|km|ថ}}</big>
| <big>{{lang|km|្ថ}}</big>
| {{transliteration|km|thâ}}
| {{transliteration|km|tha}}
| {{transliteration|km|tha}}
| {{IPA|[tʰɑː]}}
| {{transliteration|km|th}}
| {{transliteration|km|th}}
| {{transliteration|km|th}}
| {{IPA|[tʰ]}}
|-
| <big>{{lang|km|ទ}}</big>
| <big>{{lang|km|្ទ}}</big>
| {{transliteration|km|tô}}
| {{transliteration|km|to}}
| {{transliteration|km|da}}
| {{IPA|[tɔː]}}
| {{transliteration|km|t}}
| {{transliteration|km|t}}
| {{transliteration|km|d}}
| {{IPA|[t]}}
|-
| <big>{{lang|km|ធ}}</big>
| <big>{{lang|km|្ធ}}</big>
| {{transliteration|km|thô}}
| {{transliteration|km|tho}}
| {{transliteration|km|dha}}
| {{IPA|[tʰɔː]}}
| {{transliteration|km|th}}
| {{transliteration|km|th}}
| {{transliteration|km|dh}}
| {{IPA|[tʰ]}}
|-
| <big>{{lang|km|ន}}</big>
| <big>{{lang|km|្ន}}</big>
| {{transliteration|km|nô}}
| {{transliteration|km|no}}
| {{transliteration|km|na}}
| {{IPA|[nɔː]}}
| {{transliteration|km|n}}
| {{transliteration|km|n}}
| {{transliteration|km|n}}
| {{IPA|[n]}}
|-
| <big>{{lang|km|ប}}</big>
| <big>{{lang|km|្ប}}</big>
| {{transliteration|km|bâ}}
| {{transliteration|km|ba}}
| {{transliteration|km|pa}}
| {{IPA|[ɓɑː]}}
| {{transliteration|km|b, p}}
| {{transliteration|km|b, p}}
| {{transliteration|km|p}}
| {{IPA|[ɓ], [p]}}
|-
| <big>{{lang|km|ផ}}</big>
| <big>{{lang|km|្ផ}}</big>
| {{transliteration|km|phâ}}
| {{transliteration|km|pha}}
| {{transliteration|km|pha}}
| {{IPA|[pʰɑː]}}
| {{transliteration|km|ph}}
| {{transliteration|km|ph}}
| {{transliteration|km|ph}}
| {{IPA|[pʰ]}}
|-
| <big>{{lang|km|ព}}</big>
| <big>{{lang|km|្ព}}</big>
| {{transliteration|km|pô}}
| {{transliteration|km|po}}
| {{transliteration|km|ba}}
| {{IPA|[pɔː]}}
| {{transliteration|km|p}}
| {{transliteration|km|p}}
| {{transliteration|km|b}}
| {{IPA|[p]}}
|-
| <big>{{lang|km|ភ}}</big>
| <big>{{lang|km|្ភ}}</big>
| {{transliteration|km|phô}}
| {{transliteration|km|pho}}
| {{transliteration|km|bha}}
| {{IPA|[pʰɔː]}}
| {{transliteration|km|ph}}
| {{transliteration|km|ph}}
| {{transliteration|km|bh}}
| {{IPA|[pʰ]}}
|-
| <big>{{lang|km|ម}}</big>
| <big>{{lang|km|្ម}}</big>
| {{transliteration|km|mô}}
| {{transliteration|km|mo}}
| {{transliteration|km|ma}}
| {{IPA|[mɔː]}}
| {{transliteration|km|m}}
| {{transliteration|km|m}}
| {{transliteration|km|m}}
| {{IPA|[m]}}
|-
| <big>{{lang|km|យ}}</big>
| <big>{{lang|km|្យ}}</big>
| {{transliteration|km|yô}}
| {{transliteration|km|yo}}
| {{transliteration|km|ya}}
| {{IPA|[jɔː]}}
| {{transliteration|km|y}}
| {{transliteration|km|y}}
| {{transliteration|km|y}}
| {{IPA|[j]}}
|-
| <big>{{lang|km|រ}}</big>
| <big>{{lang|km|្រ}}</big>
| {{transliteration|km|rô}}
| {{transliteration|km|ro}}
| {{transliteration|km|ra}}
| {{IPA|[rɔː]}}
| {{transliteration|km|r}}
| {{transliteration|km|r}}
| {{transliteration|km|r}}
| {{IPA|[r]}}
|-
|<big> {{lang|km|ល}}</big>
| <big>{{lang|km|្ល}}</big>
| {{transliteration|km|lô}}
| {{transliteration|km|lo}}
| {{transliteration|km|la}}
| {{IPA|[lɔː]}}
| {{transliteration|km|l}}
| {{transliteration|km|l}}
| {{transliteration|km|l}}
| {{IPA|[l]}}
|-
| <big>{{lang|km|វ}}</big>
| <big>{{lang|km|្វ}}</big>
| {{transliteration|km|vô}}
| {{transliteration|km|vo}}
| {{transliteration|km|va}}
| {{IPA|[ʋɔː]}}
| {{transliteration|km|v}}
| {{transliteration|km|v}}
| {{transliteration|km|v}}
| {{IPA|[ʋ]}}
|-
| bgcolor="#E5E5E5" | <big>{{lang|km|ឝ}}</big>
| bgcolor="#E5E5E5" | <big>{{lang|km|្ឝ}}</big>
| colspan="8" bgcolor="#E5E5E5" | Obsolete; historically used for [[Voiceless alveolo-palatal fricative|palatal s]]<br>Used only for [[Pali]]/[[Sanskrit]] transliteration<ref name="KhUnicodeChart">{{Cite web|url=https://www.unicode.org/charts/PDF/U1780.pdf|title=Unicode 12.1 Character Code Charts – Khmer}}</ref>
|-
| bgcolor="#E5E5E5" | <big>{{lang|km|ឞ}}</big>
| bgcolor="#E5E5E5" | <big>{{lang|km|្ឞ}}</big>
| colspan="8" bgcolor="#E5E5E5" | Obsolete; historically used for [[voiceless retroflex fricative|retroflex s]]<br>Used only for [[Pali]]/[[Sanskrit]] transliteration<ref name="KhUnicodeChart" />
|-
| <big>{{lang|km|ស}}</big>
| <big>{{lang|km|្ស}}</big>
| {{transliteration|km|sâ}}
| {{transliteration|km|sa}}
| {{transliteration|km|sa}}
| {{IPA|[sɑː]}}
| {{transliteration|km|s}}
| {{transliteration|km|s}}
| {{transliteration|km|s}}
| {{IPA|[s]}}
|-
| <big>{{lang|km|ហ}}</big>
| <big>{{lang|km|្ហ}}</big>
| {{transliteration|km|hâ}}
| {{transliteration|km|ha}}
| {{transliteration|km|ha}}
| {{IPA|[hɑː]}}
| {{transliteration|km|h}}
| {{transliteration|km|h}}
| {{transliteration|km|h}}
| {{IPA|[h]}}
|-
| <big>{{lang|km|ឡ}}</big>
| none<ref>The letter {{lang|km|ឡ}} ''{{transliteration|km|lâ}}'' has no subscript form in standard orthography, but some fonts include one (្ឡ), as a form to be rendered if the character appears after the Khmer subscripting character (see under [[#Unicode|Unicode]]).</ref>
| {{transliteration|km|lâ}}
| {{transliteration|km|la}}
| {{transliteration|km|ḷa}}
| {{IPA|[lɑː]}}
| {{transliteration|km|l}}
| {{transliteration|km|l}}
| {{transliteration|km|ḷ}}
| {{IPA|[l]}}
|-
| <big>{{lang|km|អ}}</big>
| <big>{{lang|km|្អ}}</big>
| {{transliteration|km|'â}}
| {{transliteration|km|'a}}
| {{transliteration|km|ʿʹa}}
| {{IPA|[ʔɑː]}}
| {{transliteration|km|'}}
| {{transliteration|km|'}}
| {{transliteration|km|ʿʹ}}
| {{IPA|[ʔ]}}
|}

The letter {{lang|km|ប}} {{transliteration|km|bâ}} appears in somewhat modified form (e.g. {{lang|km|បា}}) when combined with certain dependent vowels (see [[#Ligatures|Ligatures]]).

The letter {{lang|km|ញ}} ''nhô'' is written without the lower curve when a subscript is added. When it is subscripted to itself, the subscript is a smaller form of the entire letter: {{lang|km|ញ្ញ}} ''-nhnh-''.

Note that {{lang|km|ដ}} ''{{transliteration|km|dâ}}'' and {{lang|km|ត}} ''{{transliteration|km|tâ}}'' have the same subscript form. In initial clusters this subscript is always pronounced {{IPA|[ɗ]}}, but in medial positions it is {{IPA|[ɗ]}} in some words and {{IPA|[t]}} in others.

The series {{lang|km|ដ}} ''{{transliteration|km|dâ}}'', {{lang|km|ឋ}} ''{{transliteration|km|thâ}}'', {{lang|km|ឌ}} ''{{transliteration|km|dô}}'', {{lang|km|ឍ}} ''{{transliteration|km|thô}}'', {{lang|km|ណ}} ''{{transliteration|km|nâ}}'' originally represented [[retroflex consonant]]s in the Indic parent scripts. The second, third and fourth of these are rare, and occur only for etymological reasons in a few Pali and Sanskrit loanwords. Because the sound /n/ is common, and often grammatically productive, in Mon-Khmer languages, the fifth of this group, {{lang|km|ណ}}, was adapted as an a-series counterpart of {{lang|km|ន}} ''{{transliteration|km|nô}}'' for convenience (all other nasal consonants are o-series).

=== Variation in pronunciation ===
The aspirated consonant letters (''kh-'', ''chh-'', ''th-'', ''ph-'') are pronounced with aspiration only before a vowel. There is also slight aspiration with ''k'', ''ch'', ''t'' and ''p'' sounds before [[Khmer language#Consonants|certain consonants]], but this is regardless of whether they are spelt with a letter that indicates aspiration.

A Khmer word cannot end with more than one consonant sound, so subscript consonants at the end of words (which appear for etymological reasons) are not pronounced, although they may come to be pronounced when the same word begins a compound.

In some words, a single medial consonant symbol represents both the final consonant of one syllable and the initial consonant of the next.

The letter {{lang|km|ប}} ''bâ'' represents {{IPA|[ɓ]}} only before a vowel. When final or followed by a subscript consonant, it is pronounced {{IPA|[p]}} (and in the case where it is followed by a subscript consonant, it is also romanized as ''p'' in the UN system). For modification to ''p'' by means of a diacritic, see [[#Supplementary consonants|Supplementary consonants]]. The letter, which represented /p/ in Indic scripts, also often maintains the {{IPA|[p]}} sound in certain words borrowed from Sanskrit and Pali.

The letters {{lang|km|ដ}} ''dâ'' and {{lang|km|ឌ}} ''dô'' are pronounced {{IPA|[t]}} when final. The letter {{lang|km|ត}} ''tâ'' is pronounced {{IPA|[ɗ]}} in initial position in a weak syllable ending with a nasal.

In final position, letters representing a {{IPA|[k]}} sound (''k-'', ''kh-'') are pronounced as a glottal stop {{IPA|[ʔ]}} after the vowels {{IPA|[ɑː]}}, {{IPA|[aː]}}, {{IPA|[iə]}}, {{IPA|[ɨə]}}, {{IPA|[uə]}}, {{IPA|[ɑ]}}, {{IPA|[a]}}, {{IPA|[ĕə]}}, {{IPA|[ŭə]}}. The letter {{lang|km|រ}} ''{{transliteration|km|rô}}'' is silent when final (in most dialects; see [[Northern Khmer language|Northern Khmer]]). The letter {{lang|km|ស}} ''{{transliteration|km|sâ}}'' when final is pronounced {{IPA|/h/}} (which in this position approaches {{IPA|[ç]}}).

=== Supplementary consonants ===
The Khmer writing system includes supplementary consonants, used in certain [[loanword]]s, particularly from [[French language|French]] and [[Thai language|Thai]]. These mostly represent sounds which do not occur in native words, or for which the native letters are restricted to one of the two vowel series. Most of them are [[digraph (orthography)|digraph]]s, formed by stacking a subscript under the letter {{lang|km|ហ}} {{transliteration|km|hâ}}, with an additional ''treisăpt'' [[#Diacritics|diacritic]] if required to change the inherent vowel to ''ô''. The character for ''pâ'', however, is formed by placing the ''musĕkâtônd'' ("mouse teeth") diacritic over the character {{lang|km|ប}} {{transliteration|km|bâ}}.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
! rowspan="2" | Supplementary <br/>consonant
! rowspan="2" | Description
! colspan="4" | Full value (with inherent vowel)
! colspan="4" | Consonant value
! rowspan="2" | Notes
|-
! [[Romanization of Khmer#UNGEGN|UNGEGN]]
! [[Romanization of Khmer#Geographic Department|GD]]
! [[Romanization of Khmer#ALA-LC Romanization Tables|ALA-LC]]
! [[International Phonetic Alphabet|IPA]]
! [[Romanization of Khmer#UNGEGN|UNGEGN]]
! [[Romanization of Khmer#Geographic Department|GD]]
! [[Romanization of Khmer#ALA-LC Romanization Tables|ALA-LC]]
! [[International Phonetic Alphabet|IPA]]
|-
| <big>{{lang|km|ហ្គ}}</big>
| ''hâ'' + ''kô''
| {{lang|km-Latn|hkâ}}
| {{lang|km-Latn|hka}}
| {{lang|km-Latn|hga}}
| {{IPA|[ɡɑː]}}
| {{lang|km-Latn|hk}}
| {{lang|km-Latn|hk}}
| {{lang|km-Latn|hg}}
| {{IPA|[ɡ]}}
| style="text-align:left;" | Example: {{lang|km|ហ្គាស}} {{transliteration|km|hkas}} {{IPA|[ɡaːh]}} ('gas'; from French {{lang|fr|gaz}})
|-
| <big>{{lang|km|ហ្គ៊}}</big>
| ''hâ'' + ''kô'' + diacritic
| {{lang|km-Latn|hkô}}
| {{lang|km-Latn|hko}}
| {{lang|km-Latn|hg′a}}
| {{IPA|[ɡɔː]}}
| {{lang|km-Latn|hk}}
| {{lang|km-Latn|hk}}
| {{lang|km-Latn|hg′}}
| {{IPA|[ɡ]}}
| style="text-align:left;" | Example: {{lang|km|ហ្គ៊ារ}} {{transliteration|km|hkéar}} {{IPA|[giə]}} ('train station'; from French {{lang|fr|gare}})
|-
| <big>{{lang|km|ហ្ន}}</big>
| ''hâ'' + ''nô''
| {{lang|km-Latn|hnâ}}
| {{lang|km-Latn|hna}}
| {{lang|km-Latn|hna}}
| {{IPA|[nɑː]}}
| {{lang|km-Latn|hn}}
| {{lang|km-Latn|hn}}
| {{lang|km-Latn|hn}}
| {{IPA|[n]}}
| style="text-align:left;" | Example: {{lang|km|ហ្នាំង}}/{{lang|km|ហ្ន័ង}} {{transliteration|km|hnăng}} {{IPA|[naŋ]}} ('shadow play' from Thai {{lang|th|หนัง}} {{transliteration|th|nǎng}})
|-
| <big>{{lang|km|ប៉}}</big>
| ''bâ'' + diacritic
| {{lang|km-Latn|pâ}}
| {{lang|km-Latn|pa}}
| {{lang|km-Latn|p′′a}}
| {{IPA|[pɑː]}}
| {{transliteration|km|p}}
| {{transliteration|km|p}}
| {{transliteration|km|p′′}}
| {{IPA|[p]}}
| style="text-align:left;" | Example: {{lang|km|ប៉ាក់}} {{transliteration|km|păk}} {{IPA|[pak]}} ('to embroider'), {{lang|km|ប៉័ង}} {{transliteration|km|păng}} {{IPA|[paŋ]}} ('bread'; from French {{lang|fr|pain}})
|-
| <big>{{lang|km|ហ្ម}}</big>
| ''hâ'' + ''mô''
| {{lang|km-Latn|hmâ}}
| {{lang|km-Latn|hma}}
| {{lang|km-Latn|hma}}
| {{IPA|[mɑː]}}
| {{lang|km-Latn|hm}}
| {{lang|km-Latn|hm}}
| {{lang|km-Latn|hm}}
| {{IPA|[m]}}
| style="text-align:left;" | Example: {{lang|km|គ្រូហ្ម}} {{transliteration|km|kru hmâ}} {{IPA|[kruː mɑː]}} ('shaman'; from Thai {{lang|th|หมอ}} {{transliteration|th|mɔ̌ɔ}})
|-
| <big>{{lang|km|ហ្ល}}</big>
| ''hâ'' + ''lô''
| {{lang|km-Latn|hlâ}}
| {{lang|km-Latn|hla}}
| {{lang|km-Latn|hla}}
| {{IPA|[lɑː]}}
| {{lang|km-Latn|hl}}
| {{lang|km-Latn|hl}}
| {{lang|km-Latn|hl}}
| {{IPA|[l]}}
| style="text-align:left;" | Example: {{lang|km|ហ្លួង}} {{transliteration|km|hluŏng}}  {{IPA|[luəŋ]}} ('king'; from Thai {{lang|th|หลวง}} {{transliteration|th|lǔuang}})
|-
| <big>{{lang|km|ហ្វ}}</big>
| ''hâ'' + ''vô''
| {{lang|km-Latn|hvâ}}
| {{lang|km-Latn|hva}}
| {{lang|km-Latn|hva}}
| {{IPA|[fɑː], [ʋɑː]}}
| {{lang|km-Latn|hv}}
| {{lang|km-Latn|hv}}
| {{lang|km-Latn|hv}}
| {{IPA|[f], [ʋ]}}
| style="text-align:left;" | Pronounced {{IPA|[ʋ]}} in {{lang|km|ហ្វង់}} {{transliteration|km|hváng}} {{IPA|[ʋɑŋ]}} ('clear'), {{IPA|[f]}} in {{lang|km|កាហ្វេ}} {{transliteration|km|kahvé}} {{IPA|[kaːfeː]}} ('coffee'; from French {{lang|fr|café}})
|-
| <big>{{lang|km|ហ្វ៊}}</big>
| ''hâ'' + ''vô'' + diacritic
| {{lang|km-Latn|hvô}}
| {{lang|km-Latn|hvo}}
| {{lang|km-Latn|hv′a}}
| {{IPA|[fɔː], [ʋɔː]}}
| {{lang|km-Latn|hv}}
| {{lang|km-Latn|hv}}
| {{lang|km-Latn|hv′}}
| {{IPA|[f], [ʋ]}}
| style="text-align:left;" | Example: {{lang|km|ហ្វ៊ីល}} {{transliteration|km|hvil}} {{IPA|[fiːl]}} ('film'; from French {{lang|fr|film}})
|-
| <big>{{lang|km|ហ្ស}}</big>
| ''hâ'' + ''sâ''
| {{lang|km-Latn|hsâ}}
| {{lang|km-Latn|hsa}}
| {{lang|km-Latn|hsa}}
| {{IPA|[zɑː], [ʒɑː]}}
| {{lang|km-Latn|hs}}
| {{lang|km-Latn|hs}}
| {{lang|km-Latn|hs}}
| {{IPA|[z], [ʒ]}}
| style="text-align:left;" | Example: {{lang|km|ហ្សាស}} {{transliteration|km|hsas}} {{IPA|[ʒaːh]}} ('jazz'; from French {{lang|fr|jazz}}), {{lang|km|ភីហ្សា}} {{transliteration|km|phihsa}} {{IPA|[pʰiːzaː]}} ('pizza')
|-
| <big>{{lang|km|ហ្ស៊}}</big>
| ''hâ'' + ''sâ'' + diacritic
| {{lang|km-Latn|hsô}}
| {{lang|km-Latn|hso}}
| {{lang|km-Latn|hs′a}}
| {{IPA|[zɔː], [ʒɔː]}}
| {{lang|km-Latn|hs}}
| {{lang|km-Latn|hs}}
| {{lang|km-Latn|hs′}}
| {{IPA|[z], [ʒ]}}
| style="text-align:left;" | Example: {{lang|km|ហ្ស៊ីប}} {{transliteration|km|hsib}} {{IPA|[ʒiːp]}} ('jeep'; from French {{lang|fr|jeep}}), {{lang|km|ហ្សឺណេវ}} {{transliteration|km|hsœnév}} {{IPA|[zəːneːw]}} ('Geneva'; from French {{lang|fr|Genève}})
|}

== Dependent vowels ==
Most Khmer vowel sounds are written using dependent, or [[diacritic]]al, vowel symbols, known in Khmer as {{lang|km|ស្រៈនិស្ស័យ}} {{transliteration|km|srăk nĭssăy}}  or {{lang|km|ស្រៈផ្សំ}} {{transliteration|km|srăk phsâm}} ("connecting vowel"). These can only be written in combination with a consonant (or consonant cluster). The vowel is pronounced after the consonant (or cluster), even though some of the symbols have graphical elements which appear above, below or to the left of the consonant character.

Most of the vowel symbols have two possible pronunciations, depending on the inherent vowel of the consonant to which it is added. Their pronunciations may also be different in [[Khmer language#Stress|weak syllables]], and when they are shortened (e.g. by means of a diacritic). [[#Consonants with no dependent vowel|Absence of a dependent vowel]] (or diacritic) often implies that a syllable-initial consonant is followed by the sound of its inherent vowel.

In determining the inherent vowel of a consonant cluster (i.e. how a following dependent vowel will be pronounced), [[Stop consonant|stops]] and [[Fricative consonant|fricatives]] are dominant over [[sonorant]]s. For any consonant cluster including a combination of these sounds, a following dependent vowel is pronounced according to the dominant consonant, regardless of its position in the cluster. When both members of a cluster are dominant, the subscript consonant determines the pronunciation of a following dependent vowel.

A non-dominant consonant (and in some words also {{lang|km|ហ}} ''hâ'') will also have its inherent vowel changed by a preceding dominant consonant in the same word, even when there is a vowel between them, although some words (especially among those with more than two syllables) do not obey this rule.

The dependent vowels are listed below, in conventional form with a dotted circle as a dummy consonant symbol, and in combination with the a-series letter {{lang|km|អ}} ''’â''. The IPA values given are representative of dialects from the northwest and central plains regions, specifically from the [[Battambang Province|Battambang]] area, upon which [[Standard language|Standard]] Khmer is based. Vowel pronunciation varies widely in other dialects such as [[Northern Khmer language|Northern Khmer]], where diphthongs are leveled, and [[Western Khmer dialect|Western Khmer]], in which [[breathy voice]] and [[modal voice]] [[phonation]]s are still contrastive.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
! rowspan="2" | Dependent<br>vowel
! rowspan="2" | Example
! colspan="2" | [[International Phonetic Alphabet|IPA]]<ref name="Huffman"/>
! colspan="2" | [[Romanization of Khmer#Geographic Department|GD]]
! colspan="2" | [[Romanization of Khmer#UNGEGN|UNGEGN]]
! rowspan="2" | [[Romanization of Khmer#ALA-LC Romanization Tables|ALA-LC]]
! rowspan="2" | Notes
|-
! a-series
! o-series
! a-series
! o-series
! a-series
! o-series
|-
| (none)
| <big>{{lang|km|អ}}</big>
| {{IPA|[ɑː]}},<br />{{IPA|[ɒː]}} in some dialects
| {{IPA|[ɔː]}}
|''a''
|''o''
| ''{{transliteration|km|â}}''
| ''{{transliteration|km|ô}}''
| ''a''
| style="text-align:left;" | See [[#Modification by diacritics|Modification by diacritics]] and [[#Consonants with no dependent vowel|Consonants with no dependent vowel]].
|-
| <big>{{lang|km|ា}}</big>
| <big>{{lang|km|អា}}</big>
| {{IPA|[aː]}}
| {{IPA|[iːə]}}<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/introductiontoca0000jaco|url-access=registration|title=Introduction to Cambodian|last=Jacob|first=Judith M.|date=1968|publisher=London; Bombay [etc.] : [[Oxford University Press]]|others=Internet Archive|pages=[https://archive.org/details/introductiontoca0000jaco/page/19 19], 29–30}}</ref>
|''a''
|''ea''
| ''{{transliteration|km|a}}''
| ''{{transliteration|km|éa}}''
| ''ā''
| style="text-align:left;" | See [[#Modification by diacritics|Modification by diacritics]].
{{lang|km|អ៊ា}}, the o-series of {{lang|km|ា}}, is slightly distinct from {{lang|km|ៀ}}.
({{lang|km|អ៊ា}} ~ "air" vs {{lang|km|ៀ}} ~ "ear")
|-
| <big>{{lang|km|ិ}}</big>
| <big>{{lang|km|អិ}}</big>
| {{IPA|[ə], [e]}}
| {{IPA|[ɨ], [i]}}
|''e''
|''i''
| ''{{transliteration|km|ĕ}}''
| ''{{transliteration|km|ĭ}}''
| ''i''
| style="text-align:left;" | Pronounced {{IPA|[e]}}/{{IPA|[i]}} in syllables with no written final consonant (a glottal stop is then added if the syllable is stressed; however in some words the vowel is silent when final, and in some words in which it is not word-final it is pronounced {{IPA|[əj]}}). In the o-series, combines with final យ ''yô'' to sound {{IPA|[iː]}}. (See also [[#Modification by diacritics|Modification by diacritics]].)
|-
| <big>{{lang|km|ី}}</big>
| <big>{{lang|km|អី}}</big>
| {{IPA|[əj]}}
| {{IPA|[iː]}}
|''ei''
|''i''
| ''{{transliteration|km|ei}}''
| ''{{transliteration|km|i}}''
| ''ī''
|
|-
| <big>{{lang|km|ឹ}}</big>
| <big>{{lang|km|អឹ}}</big>
| {{IPA|[ə]}}
| {{IPA|[ɨ]}}
|''oe''
|''ue''
| colspan="2" | ''{{transliteration|km|œ̆}}''
|''ẏ''
|
|-
| <big>{{lang|km|ឺ}}</big>
| <big>{{lang|km|អឺ}}</big>
| {{IPA|[əɨ]}}
| {{IPA|[ɨː]}}
|''eu''
|''ueu''
| colspan="2" | ''{{transliteration|km|œ}}''
|''ȳ''
|
|-
| <big>{{lang|km|ុ}}</big>
| <big>{{lang|km|អុ}}</big>
| {{IPA|[o]}}
| {{IPA|[u]}}
|''o''
|''u''
| ''{{transliteration|km|ŏ}}''
| ''{{transliteration|km|ŭ}}''
|''u''
| style="text-align:left;" | See [[#Modification by diacritics|Modification by diacritics]]. In a stressed syllable with no written final consonant, the vowel is followed by a glottal stop {{IPA|[ʔ]}}, or by {{IPA|[k]}} in the word តុ ''tŏk'' ("table") (but the vowel is silent when final in certain words).
|-
| <big>{{lang|km|ូ}}</big>
| <big>{{lang|km|អូ}}</big>
| {{IPA|[ou]}}
| {{IPA|[uː]}}
|''ou''
|''u''
| ''{{transliteration|km|o}}''
| ''{{transliteration|km|u}}''
|''ū''
| style="text-align:left;" | Becomes {{IPA|[əw]}}/{{IPA|[ɨw]}} before a final {{lang|km|វ}} ''vô''.
|-
| <big>{{lang|km|ួ}}</big>
| <big>{{lang|km|អួ}}</big>
| colspan="2"|{{IPA|[uə]}}
| colspan="2" |''uo''
| colspan="2"|''{{transliteration|km|uŏ}}''
|''ua''
|
|-
| <big>{{lang|km|ើ}}</big>
| <big>{{lang|km|អើ}}</big>
| {{IPA|[aə]}}
| {{IPA|[əː]}}
|''aeu''
|''eu''
| ''{{transliteration|km|aeu}}''
| ''{{transliteration|km|eu}}''
|''oe''
| style="text-align:left;" | See [[#Modification by diacritics|Modification by diacritics]].
|-
| <big>{{lang|km|ឿ}}</big>
| <big>{{lang|km|អឿ}}</big>
| colspan="2" | {{IPA|[ɨə]}}
| colspan="2" |''oea''
| colspan="2" | ''{{transliteration|km|œă}}''
|''ẏa''
|
|-
| <big>{{lang|km|ៀ}}</big>
| <big>{{lang|km|អៀ}}</big>
| colspan="2" | {{IPA|[iə]}}
| colspan="2" |''ie''
| colspan="2" | ''{{transliteration|km|iĕ}}''
| ''ia''
|
|-
| <big>{{lang|km|េ}}</big>
| <big>{{lang|km|អេ}}</big>
| {{IPA|[ei]}}
| {{IPA|[eː]}}
| colspan="2" |''e''
| colspan="2" | ''{{transliteration|km|é}}''
|''e''
| style="text-align:left;" | Becomes {{IPA|[ə]}}/{{IPA|[ɨ]}} before palatals (or in the a-series, {{IPA|[a]}} before {{IPA|[c]}} in some words). Pronounced {{IPA|[ae]}}/{{IPA|[ɛː]}} in some words. See also [[#Modification by diacritics|Modification by diacritics]].
|-
| <big>{{lang|km|ែ}}</big>
| <big>{{lang|km|អែ}}</big>
| {{IPA|[ae]}}
| {{IPA|[ɛː]}}
|''ae''
|''eae''
| colspan="2" | ''{{transliteration|km|ê}}''
|''ae''
| style="text-align:left;" | See [[#Modification by diacritics|Modification by diacritics]].
|-
| <big>{{lang|km|ៃ}}</big>
| <big>{{lang|km|អៃ}}</big>
| {{IPA|[aj]}}
| {{IPA|[ɨj]}}
|''ai''
|''ey''
| ''{{transliteration|km|ai}}''
| ''{{transliteration|km|ey}}''
|''ai''
|
|-
| <big>{{lang|km|ោ}}</big>
| <big>{{lang|km|អោ}}</big>
| {{IPA|[ao]}}
| {{IPA|[oː]}}
|''ao''
|''ou''
| ''{{transliteration|km|aô}}''
| ''{{transliteration|km|oŭ}}''
|''o''
| style="text-align:left;" | See [[#Modification by diacritics|Modification by diacritics]].
|-
| <big>{{lang|km|ៅ}}</big>
| <big>{{lang|km|អៅ}}</big>
| {{IPA|[aw]}}
| {{IPA|[ɨw]}}
|''au''
|''ov''
| ''{{transliteration|km|au}}''
| ''{{transliteration|km|ŏu}}''
|''au''
|
|}

The spoken name of each dependent vowel consists of the word {{lang|km|ស្រៈ}} ''srăk'' {{IPA|[sraʔ]}}("vowel") followed by the vowel's a-series value preceded by a glottal stop (and also followed by a glottal stop in the case of short vowels).

===Modification by diacritics===
The addition of some of the [[#Diacritics|Khmer diacritics]] can modify the length and value of inherent or dependent vowels.

The following table shows combinations with the ''{{transliteration|km|nĭkkôhĕt}}'' and ''{{transliteration|km|reăhmŭkh}}'' diacritics, representing final {{IPA|[m]}} and {{IPA|[h]}}. They are shown with the a-series consonant {{lang|km|អ}} ''’â''.
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
! rowspan="2" | Combination
! colspan="2" | [[International Phonetic Alphabet|IPA]]
! colspan="2" | [[Romanization of Khmer#Geographic Department|GD]]
! colspan="2" | [[Romanization of Khmer#UNGEGN|UNGEGN]]
! rowspan="2" | [[Romanization of Khmer#ALA-LC Romanization Tables|ALA-LC]]
! rowspan="2" | Notes
|-
! a-series
! o-series
! a-series
! o-series
! a-series
! o-series
|-
| <big>{{lang|km|អុំ}}</big>
| {{IPA|[om]}}
| {{IPA|[um]}}
| ''om''
| ''um''
| ''{{transliteration|km|om}}''
| ''{{transliteration|km|ŭm}}''
| ''uṃ''
|
|-
| <big>{{lang|km|អំ}}</big>
| {{IPA|[ɑm]}}
| {{IPA|[um]}}
|''am''
|''um''
| ''{{transliteration|km|âm}}''
| ''{{transliteration|km|um}}''
| ''aṃ''
| style="text-align:left;" | The word {{lang|km|ធំ}} {{transliteration|km|thum}} ("big") is pronounced {{IPA|[tʰom]}} (but {{IPA|[tʰum]}} in some dialects).
|-
| <big>{{lang|km|អាំ}}</big>
| {{IPA|[am]}}
| {{IPA|[ŏəm]}}
|''am''
|''oam''
| ''{{transliteration|km|ăm}}''
| ''{{transliteration|km|ŏâm}}''
|''āṃ''
| style="text-align:left;" | When followed by {{lang|km|ង}} {{transliteration|km|ngô}}, becomes {{IPA|[aŋ]}}/{{IPA|[eəŋ]}} ''ăng/eăng''.
|-
| <big>{{lang|km|អះ}}</big>
| {{IPA|[ah]}}
| {{IPA|[ĕəh]}}
|''ah''
|''eah''
| ''{{transliteration|km|ăh}}''
| ''{{transliteration|km|eăh}}''
|''aḥ''
|
|-
| <big>{{lang|km|អិះ}}</big>
| {{IPA|[eh]}}
| {{IPA|[ih]}}
|''eh''
|''is''
| ''{{transliteration|km|ĕh}}''
| ''{{transliteration|km|ĭh}}''
|''iḥ''
|
|-
| <big>{{lang|km|អុះ}}</big>
| {{IPA|[oh]}}
| {{IPA|[uh]}}
|''oh''
|''uh''
| ''{{transliteration|km|ŏh}}''
| ''{{transliteration|km|ŭh}}''
|''uḥ''
|
|-
| <big>{{lang|km|អេះ}}</big>
| {{IPA|[eh]}}
| {{IPA|[ih]}}
| colspan="2" |''eh''
| colspan="2" | ''{{transliteration|km|éh}}''
|''eḥ''
|
|-
| <big>{{lang|km|អោះ}}</big>
| {{IPA|[ɑh]}}
| {{IPA|[ŭəh]}}
|''aoh''
|''uoh''
| ''{{transliteration|km|aôh}}''
| ''{{transliteration|km|ŏăh}}''
|''oaḥ''
| style="text-align:left;" | The word {{lang|km|នោះ}} {{transliteration|km|nŏăh}} ("that") can be pronounced {{IPA|[nuh]}}.
|}

The first four configurations listed here are treated as dependent vowels in their own right, and have names constructed in the same way as for the other dependent vowels (described in the previous section).

Other rarer configurations with the ''{{transliteration|km|reăhmŭkh}}'' are {{lang|km|អើះ}} (or {{lang|km|អឹះ}}), pronounced {{IPA|[əh]}}, and {{lang|km|អែះ}}, pronounced {{IPA|[eh]}}. The word {{lang|km|ចា៎ះ}} "yes" (used by women) is pronounced [caː] and rarely {{IPA|[caːh]}}.

The ''bânták'' (a small vertical line written over the final consonant of a syllable) has the following effects:
*in a syllable with inherent ''â'', the vowel is shortened to {{IPA|[ɑ]}}, UN transcription ''á''
*in a syllable with inherent ''ô'', the vowel is modified to {{IPA|[u]}} before a final [[labial consonant|labial]], otherwise usually to {{IPA|[ŏə]}}; UN transcription ''ó''
*in a syllable with the ''a'' dependent vowel symbol ([[File:Khmer a.png]]) in the a-series, the vowel is shortened to {{IPA|[a]}}, UN transcription ''ă''
*in a syllable with that vowel symbol in the o-series, the vowel is modified to {{IPA|[ŏə]}}, UN transcription ''oă'', or to {{IPA|[ĕə]}} ''eă'' before ''k'', ''ng'', ''h''

The ''{{transliteration|km|sanhyoŭk sannha}}'' is equivalent to the ''a'' dependent vowel with the ''{{transliteration|km|bântăk}}''. However, its o-series pronunciation becomes {{IPA|[ɨ]}} before final ''y'', and {{IPA|[ɔə]}} before final (silent) ''r''.

The ''yŭkôlpĭntŭ'' (pair of dots) represents {{IPA|[a]}} (a-series) or {{IPA|[ĕə]}} (o-series), followed by a glottal stop.

===Consonants with no dependent vowel===
There are three environments where a consonant may appear without a dependent vowel. The rules governing the inherent vowel differ for all three environments. Consonants may be written with no dependent vowel as an initial consonant of a [[Khmer language#Stress|weak syllable]], an initial consonant of a strong syllable or as the final letter of a written word.

In careful speech, initial consonants without a dependent vowel in weak initial syllables are pronounced with their inherent vowel shortened as if modified by the ''bânták'' diacritic (see previous section). For example the first-series letter "{{lang|km|ច}}" in "{{lang|km|ចន្លុះ}}" ("torch") is pronounced with the short vowel {{IPA|/ɑ/}}. The second-series letter "{{lang|km|ព}}" in "{{lang|km|ពន្លឺ}}" ("light") is pronounced with the short diphthong {{IPA|/ŏə/}}. In casual speech, these are most often reduced to {{IPA|/ə/}} for both series.

Initial consonants in strong syllables without written vowels are pronounced with their inherent vowels. The word {{lang|km|ចង}} ("to tie") is pronounced {{IPA|[cɑːŋ]}}, {{lang|km|ជត}} ("weak", "to sink") is pronounced {{IPA|[cɔːt]}}. In some words, however, the inherent vowel is pronounced in its reduced form, as if modified by a ''bântăk'' diacritic, even though the diacritic is not written (e.g. {{lang|km|សព}} {{IPA|[sɑp]}} "corpse"). Such reduction regularly takes place in words ending with a consonant with a silent subscript (such as {{lang|km|សព្វ}} {{IPA|[sɑp]}} "every"), although in most such words it is the ''bânták''-reduced form of the vowel ''a'' that is heard, as in {{lang|km|សព្ទ}} {{IPA|[sap]}} "noise". The word {{lang|km|អ្នក}} "you, person" has the highly irregular pronunciation {{IPA|[nĕəʔ]}}.

Consonants written as the final letter of a word usually represent a word-final sound and are pronounced without any following vowel and, in the case of stops, with [[no audible release]] as in the examples above. However, in some words adopted from [[Pali]] and [[Sanskrit]], what would appear to be a final consonant under normal rules can actually be the initial consonant of a following syllable and pronounced with a short vowel as if followed by {{lang|km|ាក់}}. For example, according to rules for native Khmer words, {{lang|km|សុភ}} ("good", "clean", "beautiful") would appear to be a single syllable, but, being derived from Pali ''subha'', it is pronounced {{IPA|[sopʰĕəʔ]}}.

===Ligatures===
Most consonants, including a few of the subscripts, form [[Ligature (typography)|ligatures]] with the vowel {{transliteration|km|a}} (ា) and with all other dependent vowels that contain the same cane-like symbol. Most of these ligatures are easily recognizable, but a few may not be, particularly those involving the letter {{lang|km|ប}} {{transliteration|km|bâ}}. This combines with the a vowel in the form {{lang|km|បា}}, created to differentiate it from the consonant symbol {{lang|km|ហ}} {{transliteration|km|hâ}} and also from the ligature for {{lang|km|ច}} {{transliteration|km|châ}} with {{transliteration|km|a}} ({{lang|km|ចា}}).

Some more examples of ligatured symbols follow:

: {{lang|km|បៅ}} {{transliteration|km|bau}} {{IPA|[ɓaw]}} Another example with {{lang|km|ប}} {{transliteration|km|bâ}}, forming a similar ligature to that described above. Here the vowel is not a itself, but another vowel (au) which contains the cane-like stroke of that vowel as a graphical element.

: {{lang|km|លា}} {{transliteration|km|léa}} {{IPA|[liə]}} An example of the vowel a forming a connection with the [[serif]] of a consonant.

: {{lang|km|ផ្បា}} {{transliteration|km|phba}} {{IPA|[pʰɓaː]}} Subscript consonants with ascending strokes above the baseline also form ligatures with the {{transliteration|km|a}} vowel symbol.

: {{lang|km|ម្សៅ}} {{transliteration|km|msau}} {{IPA|[msaw]}} Another example of a subscript consonant forming a ligature, this time with the vowel {{transliteration|km|au}}.

: {{lang|km|ត្រា}} {{transliteration|km|tra}} {{IPA|[traː]}} The subscript for {{lang|km|រ}} {{transliteration|km|rô}} is written to the left of the main consonant, in this case {{lang|km|ត}} {{transliteration|km|tâ}}, which here forms a ligature with {{transliteration|km|a}}.

==Independent vowels==
Independent vowels are non-diacritical vowel characters that stand alone (i.e. without being attached to a consonant symbol). In Khmer they are called {{lang|km|ស្រៈពេញតួ}} ''sră pénh tuŏ'', which means "complete vowels". They are used in some words to represent certain combinations of a vowel with an initial [[glottal stop]] or [[liquid consonant|liquid]]. The independent vowels are used in a small number of words, mostly of Indic origin, and consequently there is some inconsistency in their use and pronunciations.<ref name=Huffman/> However, a few words in which they occur are used quite frequently; these include: {{lang|km|ឥឡូវ}} {{transliteration|km|ĕlov}} {{IPA|[ʔəjləw]}} "now", {{lang|km|ឪពុក}} {{transliteration|km|âupŭk}} {{IPA|[ʔəwpuk]}} "father", {{lang|km|ឬ}} {{transliteration|km|rœ}} {{IPA|[rɨː]}} "or", {{lang|km|ឮ}} {{transliteration|km|lœ}} {{IPA|[lɨː]}} "hear", {{lang|km|ឲ្យ}} {{transliteration|km|aôy}} {{IPA|[ʔaoj]}} "give, let", {{lang|km|ឯង}} {{transliteration|km|êng}} {{IPA|[ʔaeŋ]}} "oneself, I, you", {{lang|km|ឯណា}} {{transliteration|km|ê na}} {{IPA|[ʔae naː]}} "where".

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
! Independent<br />vowel
! [[International Phonetic Alphabet|IPA]]
! [[Romanization of Khmer#Geographic Department|GD]]
! [[Romanization of Khmer#UNGEGN|UNGEGN]]
|-
| <big>{{lang|km|ឥ}}</big>
| {{IPA|[ʔə]}}, {{IPA|[ʔɨ]}}, {{IPA|[ʔəj]}}
|''e''
| ''{{transliteration|km|ĕ}}''
|-
| <big>{{lang|km|ឦ}}</big>
| {{IPA|[ʔəj]}}
|''ei''
| ''{{transliteration|km|ei}}''
|-
| <big>{{lang|km|ឧ}}</big>
| {{IPA|[ʔo]}}, {{IPA|[ʔu]}}, {{IPA|[ʔao]}}
|''o''
| ''{{transliteration|km|ŏ, ŭ}}''
|-
| bgcolor="#E5E5E5" | <big>{{lang|km|ឨ}}</big>
| colspan="3" bgcolor="#E5E5E5" |Obsolete (equivalent to the sequence {{lang|km|ឧក}})<ref name="Unicode">[https://www.unicode.org/charts/PDF/U1780.pdf Official Unicode Consortium code chart for Khmer] (PDF)</ref>
|-
| <big>{{lang|km|ឩ}}</big>
| {{IPA|[ʔou], [ʔuː]}}
|''ou''
| not given
|-
| <big>{{lang|km|ឪ}}</big>
| {{IPA|[ʔəw]}}
|''au''
| ''{{transliteration|km|âu}}''
|-
| <big>{{lang|km|ឫ}}</big>
| {{IPA|[rɨ]}}
|''rue''
| ''{{transliteration|km|rœ̆}}''
|-
| <big>{{lang|km|ឬ}}</big>
| {{IPA|[rɨː]}}
|''rueu''
| ''{{transliteration|km|rœ}}''
|-
| <big>{{lang|km|ឭ}}</big>
| {{IPA|[lɨ]}}
|''lue''
| ''{{transliteration|km|lœ̆}}''
|-
| <big>{{lang|km|ឮ}}</big>
| {{IPA|[lɨː]}}
|''lueu''
| ''{{transliteration|km|lœ}}''
|-
| <big>{{lang|km|ឯ}}</big>
| {{IPA|[ʔae]}}, {{IPA|[ʔɛː]}}, {{IPA|[ʔeː]}}
|''ae''
| ''{{transliteration|km|ê}}''
|-
| <big>{{lang|km|ឰ}}</big>
| {{IPA|[ʔaj]}}
|''ai''
| ''{{transliteration|km|ai}}''
|-
| <big>{{lang|km|ឱ}}, {{lang|km|ឲ}}</big>
| {{IPA|[ʔao]}}
|''ao''
| ''{{transliteration|km|aô}}''
|-
| <big>{{lang|km|ឳ}}</big>
| {{IPA|[ʔaw]}}
|''au''
| ''{{transliteration|km|au}}''
|}

Independent vowel letters are named similarly to the dependent vowels, with the word {{lang|km|ស្រៈ}} ''sră'' {{IPA|[sraʔ]}} ("vowel") followed by the principal sound of the letter (the pronunciation or first of the pronunciations listed above), followed by an additional glottal stop after a short vowel. However the letter ឥ is called {{lang|km|ស្រៈឥ}} ''sră ĕ'' {{IPA|[sraʔ ʔeʔ]}}.<ref>Huffman (1970), p. 29.</ref>

==Diacritics==
The Khmer writing system contains several [[diacritic]]s ({{lang|km|វណ្ណយុត្តិ}}, {{transliteration|km|vônnâyŭttĕ}}, {{IPA|km|ʋannajut|pron}}), used to indicate further modifications in pronunciation.

{| class="wikitable"
! Diacritic
! Khmer name
! Function
|-
| <big>{{lang|km|ំ}}</big>
| {{lang|km|និគ្គហិត}} ''{{transliteration|km|nĭkkôhĕt}}''
| The Pali ''niggahīta'', related to the [[anusvara]]. A small circle written over a consonant or a following dependent vowel, it [[nasal consonant|nasalizes]] the inherent or dependent vowel, with the addition of {{IPA|[m]}}; long vowels are also shortened. For details see [[#Modification by diacritics|Modification by diacritics]].
|-
| <big>{{lang|km|ះ}}</big>
| {{lang|km|រះមុខ}} ''{{transliteration|km|reăhmŭkh}}''<br>"shining face"
| Related to the [[visarga]]. A pair of small circles written after a consonant or a following dependent vowel, it modifies and adds final [[Voiceless glottal fricative|aspiration]] {{IPA|/h/}} to the inherent or dependent vowel. For details see [[#Modification by diacritics|Modification by diacritics]].
|-
| <big>{{lang|km|ៈ}}</big>
| {{lang|km|យុគលពិន្ទុ}} ''{{transliteration|km|yŭkoălpĭntŭ}}''
| A "pair of dots", a fairly recently introduced diacritic, written after a consonant to indicate that it is to be followed by a short vowel and a glottal stop. See [[#Modification by diacritics|Modification by diacritics]].
|-
| <big>{{lang|km|៉}}</big>
| {{lang|km|មូសិកទន្ត}} ''{{transliteration|km|musĕkâtônd}}''<br>"mouse teeth"
| Two short vertical lines, written above a consonant, used to convert some o-series consonants ({{lang|km|ង ញ ម យ រ វ}}) to a-series. It is also used with {{lang|km|ប}} ''bâ'' to convert it to a ''p'' sound (see [[#Supplementary consonants|Supplementary consonants]]).
|-
| <big>{{lang|km|៊}}</big>
| {{lang|km|ត្រីស័ព្ទ}} ''{{transliteration|km|treisăpt}}''
| A wavy line, written above a consonant, used to convert some a-series consonants ({{lang|km|ស ហ ប អ}}) to o-series.
|-
| <big>{{lang|km|ុ}}</big>
| {{lang|km|ក្បៀសក្រោម}} ''{{transliteration|km|kbiĕs kraôm}}''
| Also known as {{lang|km|បុកជើង}} ''{{transliteration|km|bŏk cheung}}'' ("collision foot"); a vertical line written under a consonant, used in place of the diacritics ''treisăpt'' and ''musĕkâtônd'' when they would be impeded by superscript vowels.
|-
| <big>{{lang|km|់}}</big>
| {{lang|km|បន្តក់}} ''{{transliteration|km|bânták}}''
| A small vertical line written over the last consonant of a syllable, indicating shortening (and corresponding change in quality) of certain vowels. See [[#Modification by diacritics|Modification by diacritics]].
|-
| <big>{{lang|km|៌}}</big>
| {{lang|km|របាទ}} ''{{transliteration|km|rôbat}}''<br/>{{lang|km|រេផៈ}} ''{{transliteration|km|réphă}}''
| This superscript diacritic occurs in Sanskrit loanwords and corresponds to the [[Devanagari]] diacritic ''repha''. It originally represented an ''r'' sound (and is romanized as ''r'' in the UNGEGN system). Now, in most cases, the consonant above which it appears, and the diacritic itself, are unpronounced. Examples: {{lang|km|ធម៌}} {{transliteration|km|thôrm}} {{IPA|[tʰɔə]}} ("dharma"), {{lang|km|កាណ៌}} {{transliteration|km|karn}} {{IPA|[kaː]}} (from karṇa), {{lang|km|សួគ៌ា}} {{transliteration|km|suŏrkéa}} {{IPA|[suəkiə]}} ("[[Svarga]]"). 
|-
| <big>{{lang|km|៍}}</big>
| {{lang|km|ទណ្ឌឃាដ}} ''{{transliteration|km|tôndôkhéad}}''
| Written over a final consonant to indicate that it is unpronounced. (Such unpronounced letters are still romanized in the UNGEGN system.) 
|-
| <big>{{lang|km|៎}}</big>
| {{lang|km|កាកបាទ}} ''{{transliteration|km|kakâbat}}''
| Also known as a "crow's foot", used in writing to indicate the rising intonation of an exclamation or [[interjection]]; often placed on [[Grammatical particles|particles]] such as {{IPA|/na/}}, {{IPA|/nɑː/}}, {{IPA|/nɛː/}}, {{IPA|/ʋəːj/}}, and on {{lang|km|ចា៎ះ}} {{IPA|/caːh/}}, a word for "yes" used by females.
|-
| <big>{{lang|km|៏}}</big>
| {{lang|km|អស្តា}} ''{{transliteration|km|âsda}}''<br>"number eight"
| Used in a few words to show that a [[#Consonants with no dependent vowel|consonant with no dependent vowel]] is to be pronounced with its inherent vowel, rather than as a final consonant.
|-
| <big>{{lang|km|័}}</big>
| {{lang|km|សំយោគសញ្ញា}} ''{{transliteration|km|sâmyoŭk sânhnhéa}}''
| Used in some Sanskrit and Pali loanwords (although alternative spellings usually exist); it is written above a consonant to indicate that the syllable contains a particular short vowel; see [[#Modification by diacritics|Modification by diacritics]].
|-
| <big>{{lang|km|៑}}</big>
| {{lang|km|វិរាម}} ''{{transliteration|km|vĭréam}}''
| A mostly obsolete diacritic, corresponding to the [[virāma]], which suppresses a consonant's inherent vowel. 
|}

== Dictionary order ==

For the purpose of [[alphabetical order|dictionary ordering]]<ref>Different dictionaries use slightly different orderings; the system presented here is that used in the official ''Cambodian Dictionary'', as described by Huffman (1970), p. 305.</ref> of words, main consonants, subscript consonants and dependent vowels are all significant; and when they appear in combination, they are considered in the order in which they would be spoken (main consonant, subscript, vowel). The order of the [[#Consonants|consonants]] and of the [[#Dependent vowels|dependent vowels]] is the order in which they appear in the above tables. A syllable written without any dependent vowel is treated as if it contained a vowel character that precedes all the visible dependent vowels.

As mentioned above, the four [[#Modification by diacritics|configurations with diacritics]] exemplified in the syllables {{lang|km|អុំ អំ អាំ អះ}} are treated as dependent vowels in their own right, and come in that order at the end of the list of dependent vowels. Other configurations with the ''reăhmŭkh'' [[#Diacritics|diacritic]] are ordered as if that diacritic were a final consonant coming after all other consonants. Words with the ''bânták'' and ''sâmyoŭk sânhnhéa'' diacritics are ordered directly after identically spelled words without the diacritics.

Vowels precede consonants in the ordering, so a combination of main and subscript consonants comes after any instance in which the same main consonant appears unsubscripted before a vowel.

Words spelled with an [[#Independent vowels|independent vowel]] whose sound begins with a glottal stop follow after words spelled with the equivalent combination of {{lang|km|អ}} ''’â'' plus dependent vowel. Words spelled with an independent vowel whose sound begins {{IPA|[r]}} or {{IPA|[l]}} follow after all words beginning with the consonants {{lang|km|រ}} ''rô'' and {{lang|km|ល}} ''lô'' respectively.

Words spelled with a consonant modified by a diacritic follow words spelled with the same consonant and dependent vowel symbol but without the diacritic. {{dubious|date=July 2016}} {{citation needed|date=July 2016}} However, words spelled with {{lang|km|ប៉ }} (a ''bâ'' converted to a ''p'' sound by a diacritic) follow all words with unmodified {{lang|km|ប}} ''bâ'' (without diacritic and without subscript). {{dubious|date=July 2016}} {{citation needed|date=July 2016}} Sometimes words in which {{lang|km|ប}} is pronounced ''p'' are ordered as if the letter were written {{lang|km|ប៉}}.

== Numerals ==
{{Main|Khmer numerals}}

The numerals of the Khmer script, similar to that used by other civilizations in Southeast Asia, are also derived from the southern Indian script. Western-style [[Arabic numerals]] are also used, but to a lesser extent.

{| class="wikitable"
|-
| {{letter|l=khm|s=Khmr|top=0|ch=០|ipa=|notes=}}
| {{letter|l=khm|s=Khmr|top=1|ch=១|ipa=|notes=}}
| {{letter|l=khm|s=Khmr|top=2|ch=២|ipa=|notes=}}
| {{letter|l=khm|s=Khmr|top=3|ch=៣|ipa=|notes=}}
| {{letter|l=khm|s=Khmr|top=4|ch=៤|ipa=|notes=}}
| {{letter|l=khm|s=Khmr|top=5|ch=៥|ipa=|notes=}}
| {{letter|l=khm|s=Khmr|top=6|ch=៦|ipa=|notes=}}
| {{letter|l=khm|s=Khmr|top=7|ch=៧|ipa=|notes=}}
| {{letter|l=khm|s=Khmr|top=8|ch=៨|ipa=|notes=}}
| {{letter|l=khm|s=Khmr|top=9|ch=៩|ipa=|notes=}}
|-
|}

In large numbers, [[digit grouping|groups of three digits]] are delimited with Western-style [[full stop|periods]]. The [[decimal point]] is represented by a comma. The Cambodian currency, the [[Cambodian riel|riel]], is abbreviated using the symbol <big>{{lang|km|៛}}</big> or simply the letter <big>{{lang|km|រ}}</big> ''rô''.

== Spacing and punctuation ==

[[Space (typography)|Spaces]] are not used between all words in written Khmer. Spaces are used within sentences in roughly the same places as [[comma]]s might be in English, although they may also serve to set off certain items such as numbers and proper names.

Western-style [[punctuation mark]]s are quite commonly used in modern Khmer writing, including French-style [[guillemet]]s for [[Non-English usage of quotation marks|quotation marks]]. However, traditional Khmer punctuation marks are also used; some of these are described in the following table.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
! Mark
! Khmer name
! Function
|-
| <big>{{lang|km|។}}</big>
| {{lang|km|ខណ្ឌ}} ''khând''
| style="text-align:left;" | Used as a [[Full stop|period]] (the sign resembles an [[eighth rest]] in music writing). However, consecutive sentences on the same theme are often separated only by spaces.
|-
|<big>{{lang|km|៘}}</big>
| {{lang|km|ល៉ៈ}} ''lăk''
| style="text-align:left;" | Equivalent to ''[[etc.]]''
|-
|<big>{{lang|km|ៗ}}</big>
| {{lang|km|លេខទោ}} ''lékh toŭ'' <br/>("figure two")
| style="text-align:left;" | Duplication sign (similar in form to the [[#Numerals|Khmer numeral]] for 2). It indicates that the preceding word or phrase is to be repeated ([[reduplication|duplicated]]), a common feature in Khmer syntax.
|-
|<big>{{lang|km|៕}}</big>
| {{lang|km|បរិយោសាន}} ''bârĭyoŭsan''
| style="text-align:left;" | A period used to end an entire text or a chapter.
|-
|<big>{{lang|km|៚}}</big>
| {{lang|km|គោមូត្រ}} ''koŭmutr'' <br/>("cow urine")
| style="text-align:left;" | A period used at the end of poetic or religious texts.
|-
|<big>{{lang|km|៙}}</big>
| {{lang|km|ភ្នែកមាន់}} ''phnêk moăn'' <br/>("cock's eye")
| style="text-align:left;" | A symbol (said to represent the elephant trunk of [[Ganesha]]) used at the start of poetic or religious texts.
|-
| <big>{{lang|km|៖}}</big>
|{{lang|km|ចំណុចពីរគូស}} ''châmnŏch pir kus'' <br/>"two dots (and a) line"
| style="text-align:left;" | Used similarly to a [[colon (punctuation)|colon]]. (The middle line distinguishes this sign from a [[#Diacritics|diacritic]].)
|}

A [[hyphen]] ({{lang|km|សហសញ្ញា}} ''sâhâ sânhnhéa'') is commonly used between components of personal names, and also as in English when a word is divided between lines of text. It can also be used between numbers to denote ranges or dates. Particular uses of Western-style periods include grouping of digits in large numbers (see ''[[#Numerals|Numerals]]'' hereinbefore) and denotation of [[abbreviation]]s.

== Styles ==
Several styles of Khmer writing are used for varying purposes. The two main styles are {{transliteration|km|''âksâr chriĕng''}} (literally "slanted script") and {{transliteration|km|''âksâr mul''}} ("round script").

[[File:Bhuddha Sutra in Thai-Khmer Font.JPG|thumb|{{transliteration|km|Âksâr khâm}} ({{lang|km|អក្សរខម}}), or ''Akson khom'' ({{lang|th|อักษรขอม}}), an antique style of the Khmer script as written in Uttaradit, Thailand. In this picture, although it was written with Khmer script, all texts in this manuscript are in Thai languages.]]

*{{transliteration|km|Âksâr chriĕng}} ({{lang|km|អក្សរជ្រៀង}}) refers to [[oblique type|oblique]] letters. Entire bodies of text such as novels and other publications may be produced in ''âksâr chriĕng''. Unlike in [[Standard written English|written English]], oblique lettering does not represent any grammatical differences such as [[Emphasis (typography)|emphasis]] or quotation. Handwritten Khmer is often written in the oblique style.
*{{transliteration|km|Âksâr chhôr}} ({{lang|km|អក្សរឈរ}}) or {{transliteration|km|Âksâr tráng}} ({{lang|km|អក្សរត្រង់}}) refers to upright or 'standing' letters, as opposed to oblique letters. Most modern Khmer [[typeface]]s are designed in this manner instead of being oblique, as text can be italicized by way of word processor commands and other computer applications to represent the oblique manner of ''âksâr chriĕng''.
*{{transliteration|km|Âksâr khâm}} ({{lang|km|អក្សរខម}}), also known as the [[Khom Thai script]], is a style used in Pali [[palm-leaf manuscript]]s. It is characterized by sharper serifs and angles and retainment of some antique characteristics, notably in the consonant ''kâ'' ({{lang|km|ក}}). This style is also for [[yantra tattooing|yantra tattoos]] and [[yantra]]s on cloth, paper, or engravings on brass plates in Cambodia as well as in Thailand.<ref>May, Angela Marie. (2014). ''Sak Yant: The Transition from Indic Yantras to Thai Magical Buddhist Tattoos (Master's thesis)'' (p. 6). The University of Alabama at Birmingham.</ref><ref>Igunma, Jana. (2013). Aksoon Khoom: Khmer Heritage in Thai and Lao Manuscript Cultures. ''Tai Culture, 23: Route of the Roots: Tai-Asiatic Cultural Interaction''.</ref><ref>Tsumura, Fumihiko. (2009). Magical Use of Traditional Scripts in Northeastern Thai Villages. ''Senri Ethnological Studies, 74'', 63–77.</ref><ref>This particular style of Khmer shall not be confused with another script with the same name, described by [[Paul Sidwell]] (see [[Khom script (Ong Kommadam)]]).</ref>
*{{transliteration|km|Âksâr mul}} ({{lang|km|អក្សរមូល}}) is [[calligraphical]] style similar to ''âksâr khâm'' as it also retains some characters reminiscent of antique Khmer script. Its name in Khmer means literally 'round script' and it refers to the bold and thick lettering style. It is used for titles and headings in Cambodian documents, on books, banknotes, shop signs and banners. It is sometimes used to emphasize royal names or other important names.

<gallery widths="200" heights="60px">
Khmerscript-oblique.png|''âksâr chriĕng''
Khmer sample script.svg|''âksâr chhôr''
Khmerscript-khom.png|''âksâr khâm''
Khmerscript-round.png|''âksâr mul''
</gallery>

== Unicode ==

The basic [[Khmer (Unicode block)|Khmer block]] was added to the [[Unicode]] Standard in version 3.0, released in September 1999. It then contained 103 defined code points; this was extended to 114 in version 4.0, released in April 2003. Version 4.0 also introduced an additional block, called [[Khmer Symbols]], containing 32 signs used for writing [[lunar calendar|lunar dates]].

The Unicode block for basic Khmer characters is U+1780–U+17FF:
{{Unicode chart Khmer}}

The first 35 characters are the [[#Consonants|consonant letter]]s (including two obsolete). The symbols at U+17A3 and U+17A4 are deprecated (they were intended for use in Pali and Sanskrit transliteration, but are identical in appearance to the consonant {{lang|km|អ}}, written alone or with the ''a'' vowel). These are followed by the 15 [[#Independent vowels|independent vowels]] (including one obsolete and one variant form). The code points U+17B4 and U+17B5 are invisible combining marks for inherent vowels, intended for use only in special applications.

Next come the 16 [[#Dependent vowels|dependent vowel signs]] and the 12 [[#Diacritics|diacritics]] (excluding the ''kbiĕh kraôm'', which is identical in form to the ''ŏ'' dependent vowel); these are represented together with a dotted circle, but should be displayed appropriately in combination with a preceding Khmer letter.

The code point U+17D2, called {{lang|km|ជើង}} ''{{transliteration|km|ceung}}'', meaning "foot", is used to indicate that a following consonant is to be written in subscript form. It is not normally visibly rendered as a character. U+17D3 was originally intended for use in writing lunar dates, but its use is now discouraged (see the Khmer Symbols block hereafter). The next seven characters are the [[#Spacing and punctuation|punctuation marks]] listed hereinbefore; these are followed by the [[Cambodian riel|riel]] currency symbol, a rare sign corresponding to the Sanskrit [[avagraha]], and a mostly obsolete version of the ''vĭréam'' diacritic. The U+17Ex series contains the [[#Numerals|Khmer numerals]], and the U+17Fx series contains variants of the numerals used in [[divination]] lore.

The block with additional lunar date symbols is U+19E0–U+19FF:
{{Unicode chart Khmer Symbols}}

The symbols at U+19E0 and U+19F0 represent the first and second "eighth month" in a lunar year containing a leap-month (see [[Khmer calendar]]). The remaining symbols in this block denote the days of a lunar month: those in the U+19Ex series for waxing days, and those in the U+19Fx series for waning days.

== See also ==
* [[Khmer Braille]]
* [[Romanization of Khmer]]
* [[Khom Thai script]]

==Notes==
{{Reflist}}

== References ==
* <span id="L'institutBouddhique">''Dictionnaire Cambodgien'', Vol I & II, 1967, L'institut Bouddhique (Khmer Language)</span>
* <span id="Jacob">Jacob, Judith. 1974. ''A Concise Cambodian-English Dictionary''. London, Oxford University Press.</span>

== External links ==
*[http://omniglot.com/writing/khmer.htm Omniglot entry on Khmer]
*[http://www.eki.ee/wgrs/rom1_km.pdf Khmer Romanization Table] (PDF)

{{list of writing systems}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Khmer Script}}
[[Category:Khmer script| ]]
[[Category:7th-century introductions]]
[[Category:Writing systems introduced in the 1st millennium]]
[[Category:Khmer language]]
[[Category:Writing systems of Asia]]
[[Category:Writing systems without word boundaries]]