Saying Hello

 In Cambodia social interactions are usually governed by centuries-old traditions of respect and hierarchy that may not be immediately obvious to the average expat. This is evident every time Cambodians greet you or each other. Similar to the Thai wai, this is called the sampeah, and it is how Cambodians greet one another, particularly for the first time. The formal greeting in Khmer is “Choum reap sor” and should be said while sampeahing. (The more informal “Susaday” is reserved for casual situations and does not involve a sampeah.) “Choum reap lear” is the formal good-bye.