30 Khmer Language Quiz Questions and Answers

Khmer, also known as Cambodian, is the official language of Cambodia and is spoken by the majority of its population. With approximately 16 million speakers, Khmer is the primary means of communication, used in government, education, media, and daily interactions throughout the country.

The Khmer language has a unique linguistic history, with roots in the Mon-Khmer language family. It has evolved over centuries, influenced by neighboring languages such as Thai, Vietnamese, and Lao. The Khmer script, an abugida writing system, is used to write the language. It consists of consonants with inherent vowel sounds that can be modified with diacritic marks.

The language is known for its complex honorifics and politeness levels, reflecting Cambodia’s cultural emphasis on respect and hierarchy. Khmer culture and traditions are intricately linked to the language, with a rich literary heritage that includes ancient inscriptions, religious texts, and classical literature.

The Khmer language played a significant role in the country’s history, particularly during the Khmer Empire, which left behind impressive architectural marvels like Angkor Wat. Today, it continues to be a symbol of national identity, uniting Cambodians from diverse backgrounds.

Article outline

• Part 1: 30 Khmer language quiz questions & answers
• Part 2: Download Khmer language questions & answers for free
• Part 3: Free online quiz creator – OnlineExamMaker

Part 1: 30 Khmer language quiz questions & answers

1. What is the official language of Cambodia?
a) Thai
b) Vietnamese
c) Lao
d) Khmer
Answer: d) Khmer

2. How many speakers are there approximately for the Khmer language?
a) 10 million
b) 16 million
c) 25 million
d) 30 million
Answer: b) 16 million

3. What is the primary writing system used for the Khmer language?
a) Latin script
b) Cyrillic script
c) Arabic script
d) Khmer script
Answer: d) Khmer script

4. Khmer language belongs to which language family?
a) Sino-Tibetan
b) Indo-European
c) Mon-Khmer
d) Austroasiatic
Answer: d) Austroasiatic

5. Which country is Khmer also spoken in besides Cambodia?
a) Thailand
b) Vietnam
c) Laos
d) Thailand and Vietnam
Answer: d) Thailand and Vietnam

6. The Khmer script is an example of what type of writing system?
a) Alphabet
b) Abjad
c) Abugida
d) Syllabary
Answer: c) Abugida

7. Which vowel sound is inherent in the Khmer consonant script?
a) /a/
b) /i/
c) /u/
d) /e/
Answer: a) /a/

8. What is the significance of honorifics in the Khmer language?
a) They indicate the gender of the speaker.
b) They reflect the speaker’s age.
c) They express respect and politeness.
d) They denote the speaker’s regional dialect.
Answer: c) They express respect and politeness.

9. What does the term “abugida” mean in the context of writing systems?
a) Each symbol represents a syllable with a consonant and a vowel sound.
b) Each symbol represents a consonant sound only.
c) Each symbol represents a vowel sound only.
d) Each symbol represents a full word.
Answer: a) Each symbol represents a syllable with a consonant and a vowel sound.

10. Which historical empire in Cambodia made significant contributions to the development of the Khmer language and culture?
a) Angkor Empire
b) Champa Empire
c) Majapahit Empire
d) Srivijaya Empire
Answer: a) Angkor Empire

11. What is the traditional religious text written in the Khmer script?
a) Tripitaka
b) Vedas
c) Quran
d) Torah
Answer: a) Tripitaka

12. Which of the following neighboring languages has had the most significant influence on the Khmer vocabulary?
a) Thai
b) Vietnamese
c) Chinese
d) Lao
Answer: b) Vietnamese

13. Which Khmer script feature allows for changing the tone of a word?
a) Subscript vowels
b) Superimposed consonants
c) Diacritics
d) Diagraphs
Answer: c) Diacritics

14. What is the primary language spoken by the Khmer ethnic group in Cambodia?
a) Vietnamese
b) Khmer
c) Thai
d) Lao
Answer: b) Khmer

15. What is the Khmer language’s role in the preservation of Cambodian cultural heritage?
a) It is a symbol of the Khmer Empire’s former dominance.
b) It is used exclusively for religious ceremonies.
c) It is a unifying force among Cambodia’s diverse ethnic groups.
d) It has no significant role in cultural preservation.
Answer: c) It is a unifying force among Cambodia’s diverse ethnic groups.

Part 2: Download Khmer language questions & answers for free

16. Which of the following statements about the Khmer language is true?
a) It uses the Latin script for writing.
b) It is a tonal language like Chinese.
c) It has a grammatical gender system.
d) It has no influence from other languages.
Answer: b) It is a tonal language like Chinese.

17. What is the official language of Cambodia besides Khmer?
a) Thai
b) Vietnamese
c) French
d) English
Answer: c) French

18. What is the primary determinant of honorific usage in the Khmer language?
a) The speaker’s age
b) The speaker’s gender
c) The speaker’s social status
d) The speaker’s educational background
Answer: c) The speaker’s social status

19. Which Khmer vowel is represented by a subscript form in the Khmer script?
a) /a/
b) /i/
c) /u/
d) /e/
Answer: b) /i/

20. What is the role of the Khmer language in the Cambodian education system?
a) It is the medium of instruction in schools.
b) It is not used in the education system.
c) It is used only in religious education.
d) It is used only in higher education.
Answer: a) It is the medium of instruction in schools.

21. Which language family does Khmer belong to?
a) Sino-Tibetan
b) Tai-Kadai
c) Mon-Khmer
d) Dravidian
Answer: c) Mon-Khmer

22. Which Khmer vowel is represented by a superimposed form in the Khmer script?
a) /a/
b) /i/
c) /u/
d) /e/
Answer: c) /u/

23. How many tones does the Khmer language have?
a) 3
b) 4
c) 5
d) 6
Answer: b) 4

24. The Khmer language has borrowed vocabulary from which of the following languages due to historical contact?
a) Dutch
b) Sanskrit
c) Portuguese
d) Russian
Answer: b) Sanskrit

25. Which Khmer consonant is used to represent the “ch” sound as in “chocolate”?
a) ប (ba)
b) ឆ (cho)
c) ដ (da)
d) ឈ (chha)
Answer: d) ឈ (chha)

26. What is the primary language spoken in Phnom Penh, the capital city of Cambodia?
a) Vietnamese
b) Thai
c) Khmer
d) Lao
Answer: c) Khmer

27. What is the role of the Khmer language in Cambodian cultural performances?
a) It is not used in cultural performances.
b) It is used only in traditional dance performances.
c) It is an essential element in music and theatrical performances.
d) It is used only in religious ceremonies.
Answer: c) It is an essential element in music and theatrical performances.

28. What is the meaning of “អរគុណ” (Arukun) in English?
a) Hello
b) Goodbye
c) Thank you
d) Yes
Answer: c) Thank you

29. Which of the following is a popular Cambodian festival where the Khmer language is extensively used for celebrations and rituals?
a) Songkran
b) Chuseok
c) Pchum Ben
d) Diwali
Answer: c) Pchum Ben

30. How does the Khmer script differ from the Latin script used in English?
a) The Khmer script is a syllabic script, while the Latin script is an alphabetic script.
b) The Khmer script uses only consonants, while the Latin script uses both consonants and vowels.
c) The Khmer script does not have uppercase and lowercase letters, unlike the Latin script.
d) The Khmer script is written from right to left, while the Latin script is written from left to right.
Answer: a) The Khmer script is a syllabic script, while the Latin script is an alphabetic script.

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