Writing on signs in Cambodia
Curly letters with hats
Khmer is the most ornate script in Southeast Asia: curly letters with little hats on top and extra letters stacked below the line.
- Look for the small curls on top of letters like ក and ខ.
- Lines of Khmer text are taller than Thai or Lao because of the letters below.
- Shop signs often repeat the name in English.
14 photos, grouped by the clue they show.
Key clue Shop sign 11
Key clue Street sign 3
Cambodia: what its writing looks like
Khmer is the most ornate script in Southeast Asia. Letters have curly hats on top, and extra consonants are written below the line, so a line of Khmer text looks tall and busy.
Shop signs in Cambodia often put the name in Khmer at the top and in English below it.
Khmer script is used everywhere in Cambodia, from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap.
Look-alikes: how to tell them apart
Thailand
LaosThai has small loops but no stacked letters below. Lao is rounder and plainer.
Questions about the writing in Cambodia
How do I recognise Khmer writing?
Look for curly letters with little hats on top and extra letters hanging below the line. It looks more decorated than Thai.
Do Cambodian signs use English?
Very often. Many shop signs show Khmer at the top and English underneath.