08/18/2026
Khmer (ភាសាខ្មែរ) is an Austroasiatic language belonging to the Khmeric branch and is the official language of Cambodia. Its origins lie in the ancient Austroasiatic languages of mainland Southeast Asia, with Old Khmer emerging as a distinct written language by the early 7th century CE. The earliest known Khmer inscription is generally dated to 611 CE, marking the beginning of the documented Pre-Angkorian period. Khmer developed further during the Angkorian period (802–1431) and evolved into Middle and Modern Khmer.
From the early centuries CE, Khmer society came under strong Indian cultural and linguistic influence, particularly through Sanskrit and later Pali. Sanskrit was extensively used in royal, religious and monumental inscriptions, while thousands of Sanskrit and Pali words entered Khmer vocabulary, especially in religion, philosophy, administration and literature. The Khmer script ultimately developed from South Indian Brahmi-derived scripts, particularly the Pallava tradition.
Modern Khmer has several regional varieties, including Central Khmer, Southern Khmer (Khmer Krom) in southern Vietnam, Northern Khmer in northeastern Thailand, Western Khmer, and more conservative varieties such as Cardamom Khmer. Despite centuries of Indian influence and contact with Thai, Lao and Vietnamese, Khmer remains fundamentally Austroasiatic in its grammar and core vocabulary, making it an important surviving branch of the ancient linguistic landscape of mainland Southeast Asia.
