Customer Reviews

Tuttle Practical Cambodian Dictionary: English-Cambodian Cambodian-English (Tuttle Language Library)

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

This small dictionary seems to be modelled on Robertson's Thai dictionary. In this context it is light years ahead of its model. But it is next to useless for all but very basic vocab. Be warned too, that nine times out of ten the word you are stuck for will not be there, and if perchance it is, there will be no help at all on usage. The transliteration is terrible and often misleading or wrong. Be careful too because the meanings are likely to also be sufficiently incomplete or even wrong to create some embarrassment. Not very useful for anybody wanting to communicate in Khmer, and completely inadequate for anybody wanting to learn the language.

This book is amazing! Most Khmers books that i'd encounter just have an english word, then a khmer translation that's written in Khmer. This book gives a khmer pronunciation that's written in english, as well as Khmer. Somebody here gave it a bad review and I really don't understand why? That person said this book can cause embarassment but I disagree! If you can't play ball, don't blame the ball. Most of the words, if not all are accurate. What I think this book lacks is an audio CD that people can listen to. Otherwise, I think it's a great book. I got it at the library, I will buy it. Also, it's pocket size, very convenient.

The Tuttle Practical Cambodian Dictionary is a good quick reference guide. Pocket sized and easy to carry, it isn't designed to be comprehensive, but has most of the essential words and phrases one is likely to encounter in everyday usage. I have some minor quibbles on pronunciation of a few words, but, spoken Khmer is often at variance with the written form of the words. For technical translation, a more comprehensive dictionary is a must, but for travelers and translation of simple documents, this is a fine tool.

This book is amazing! Most Khmers books that i'd encounter just have an english word, then a khmer translation that's written in Khmer. This book gives a khmer pronunciation that's written in english, as well as Khmer. I think it's a great book. I got it at the library, I will buy it. Also, it's pocket size, very convenient.

Found this to be of great assistance when staying with our Cambodian daughterinlaw prior to the birth of our first grandchild -written symbols alongside word translations the best help of all--- able to break down communication barriers

I like the fact that the Cambodian script is legible, unlike some, but the English equivalent is pretty unpronouncable unless you also know how to read the Cambodian. It's got a lot of the basic words but has so many gaps it's probably not worth your while unless you just need something very very basic.

I purchased this for a client that could communicate very little with me. This book is one of the 3 I purchased just GREAT!

As others have noted, it is not useful for individuals who wish to learn the Khmer language or for those who wish to communicate in Khmer. Many of the words are misspelled in Khmer and phonetically inaccurate. This book is only useful for basic words. Very limited in clarifying multiple definitions for individual words. It is best to purchase a more comprehensive dictionary.

I have a newly arrived Cambodian college student in my home. We both use this dictionary to communicate while we teach each other how to pronounce words in the other person's language. It has led to many funny moments and great companionship!

The review made by "A Reader" couldn't have said it better. 9 times out of ten the word you want is not there and the translations are often bad. NOT a good reference under any circumstances.