A2 Pronouns 5 min read Facile

Demonstrative Pronouns 'Nih' and 'Noh' (This and That)

In Khmer, demonstratives always follow the noun to point out specific items based on physical or temporal distance.
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Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds

Use 'Nih' for things you can touch and 'Noh' for things further away, always placing them after the noun.

  • Use 'Nih' (នេះ) for 'this' near the speaker: ឡាននេះ (This car).
  • Use 'Noh' (នោះ) for 'that' away from the speaker: ផ្ទះនោះ (That house).
  • Always place the demonstrative AFTER the noun it modifies.
Noun + នេះ (Nih) / នោះ (Noh)

Overview

Welcome to the world of pointing! In Khmer, nih and noh are your best friends. They help you identify specific things in your world.
Think of them as your digital fingers. You use them every single day. They are simple but very powerful.
Nih means this. Noh means that. Whether you are at a market or in a meeting, you need these. They help you be specific and clear. Without them, you are just talking about general things.
With them, you are talking about *this* thing right here. Let's dive in and master these essential pointers. It is easier than you think!

How This Grammar Works

In English, we say this book. In Khmer, the order flips completely. You say book this. It feels a bit backward at first. But you will get used to it quickly.
Think of it like a label on a jar. The jar comes first, then the label. This makes the noun the star of the show.
You identify the object first. Then you tell us which one it is. If you want to say this coffee, you say kafe nih.
If you want that coffee over there, say kafe noh. The word nih or noh always follows the noun. It never leads the way.
It is like a loyal dog following its owner. This pattern is very consistent in Khmer. You will see it everywhere.
It applies to people, places, and things. It even applies to abstract ideas like this problem.

Formation Pattern

1
Creating these phrases is a simple three-step process.
2
Pick the noun you want to talk about first.
3
Add any adjectives if you need them.
4
Place nih or noh at the very end of the phrase.
5
For example, let's look at this big house. The noun is phteah (house). The adjective is thom (big). The pointer is nih (this). Put them together: phteah thom nih. It is like building a sandwich. The noun is the bottom bread. The adjectives are the filling. The demonstrative pronoun is the top bread. If you have a number, it usually goes before the pointer too. Siev-phov pii nih means these two books. Just remember the caboose rule. The pointer is always the last car on the train.

When To Use It

Use nih for things within your physical reach. If you can touch it, use nih. Use noh for things further away. Think of it like a grammar traffic light. Nih is green (close), noh is yellow (further).
Scenario 1: Ordering Food. Point to a dish and say m-houp nih. It is immediate and clear.
Scenario 2: Asking Directions. Point to a distant building and say akear noh.
Scenario 3: Job Interviews. Talk about kar-ngea nih (this job). It shows you are focused.
Scenario 4: Time. Use nih for the present. Sada nih means this week. Use noh for the past or future. Khae noh means that month. It works for physical distance and time distance. It is a very versatile tool for your Khmer kit.

When Not To Use It

Do not use these before the noun. That is a classic English-speaker trap. If you say nih siev-phov, you will sound like a confused tourist.
Also, don't use them for people you respect without a title. Just saying nih while pointing at an elder is quite rude. Always include a title like lok or neak.
For example, lok nih (this gentleman). Don't use them if the object is already perfectly clear. Khmer loves to drop unnecessary words.
If you are already holding the book, you can just say siev-phov. You don't always need the this. Use it for emphasis or clarity. Don't overcomplicate your sentences if you don't have to.

Common Mistakes

Putting nih before the noun is the #1 mistake. It is a hard habit to break for English speakers. Think of it like wearing your shoes on your hands. It just looks wrong! Another mistake is using the wrong distance. If you point at something across the street and say nih, people will be confused. They will look at your feet! Use noh for anything outside your immediate bubble. Also, watch your pronunciation. In fast speech, nih can sound like neh. Noh can sound like nuh. Don't let these variations scare you. Even native speakers mess this up sometimes when they are tired. Just keep your distance markers clear and you will be fine.

Contrast With Similar Patterns

Don't confuse nih with ti-nih (here). Nih describes a thing: this book. Ti-nih describes a location:
the book is here.
It is a subtle but important difference. One is a pointer, the other is a map.
Also, compare them with m-neak nih (this person). When talking about people, we often add a classifier. This makes the sentence sound more natural and polite.
Nih and noh are like the foundation of a house. Other words like here, there, and that one are built on top of them. Once you master these two, the rest of Khmer logic starts to click.
It is like finding the missing piece of a puzzle.

Quick FAQ

Q

Can nih mean the?

Yes, it often acts like a definite article in Khmer.

Q

Does it change for plural nouns?

No, Khmer nouns don't change. Siev-phov nih can mean this book or these books.

Q

Is it okay to point with my finger?

In Cambodia, it is often more polite to point with your whole hand. Or even just a tilt of the head!

Q

How do I say that one?

You can say m-uoy noh. This literally means one that.

Demonstrative Placement

Noun Demonstrative English Meaning
ឆ្មា (Chma)
នេះ (Nih)
This cat
ឆ្មា (Chma)
នោះ (Noh)
That cat
ម្ហូប (Mhoub)
នេះ (Nih)
This food
ម្ហូប (Mhoub)
នោះ (Noh)
That food
មនុស្ស (Monous)
នេះ (Nih)
This person
មនុស្ស (Monous)
នោះ (Noh)
That person

Common Spoken Variations

Written Spoken/Casual Usage
នេះ (Nih)
ន្នេះ (N'nih)
Emphasized 'this'
នោះ (Noh)
នុះ (Nuh)
Casual 'that'
អានេះ (A-nih)
ហានេះ (Ha-nih)
Slang for 'this thing'

Meanings

Demonstratives are used to identify or point to specific people, objects, or places based on their distance from the speaker.

1

Physical Location

Pointing to physical objects within or outside of immediate reach.

“ញ៉ាំអាហារនេះ (Nyam ahar nih) - Eat this food.”

2

Temporal Reference

Referring to time periods like 'this week' or 'that year'.

“សប្តាហ៍នេះ (Saptah nih) - This week.”

3

Abstract Reference

Referring to an idea or statement previously mentioned in conversation.

“រឿងនោះមិនពិតទេ (Reuang noh min pit te) - That story isn't true.”

Reference Table

Reference table for Demonstrative Pronouns 'Nih' and 'Noh' (This and That)
Form Structure Example
Affirmative
Noun + នេះ/នោះ
សៀវភៅនេះ (This book)
Negative
មិនមែន + Noun + នេះ/នោះ + ទេ
មិនមែនសៀវភៅនេះទេ (Not this book)
Question
Noun + នេះ/នោះ + មែនទេ?
សៀវភៅនេះមែនទេ? (Is it this book?)
Pronoun Subject
នេះ/នោះ + គឺជា + Noun
នេះគឺជាសៀវភៅ (This is a book)
Plural
Noun + ទាំង + នេះ/នោះ
សៀវភៅទាំងនេះ (These books)
Emphasis
Noun + នេះឯង
សៀវភៅនេះឯង (This very book)

Spectre de formalité

Formel
ខ្ញុំសូមអញ្ជើញយកមួយនោះ។

ខ្ញុំសូមអញ្ជើញយកមួយនោះ។ (Shopping)

Neutre
ខ្ញុំចង់បានមួយនោះ។

ខ្ញុំចង់បានមួយនោះ។ (Shopping)

Informel
យកអាហ្នឹង (Yok a-neng)

យកអាហ្នឹង (Yok a-neng) (Shopping)

Argot
យកអាហ្នឹងហ្អា (Yok a-neng ha)

យកអាហ្នឹងហ្អា (Yok a-neng ha) (Shopping)

Nih vs Noh Distance

Near (Touch/Reach)
នេះ (Nih) This
Far (Point/View)
នោះ (Noh) That

Common Noun Pairings

⏰

Time

  • • ថ្ងៃនេះ (Today)
  • • យប់នេះ (Tonight)
  • • ពេលនោះ (That time)
📦

Objects

  • • មួយនេះ (This one)
  • • របស់នោះ (That thing)
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Exemples par niveau

1

ហាងនេះ

This shop

2

ផ្ទះនោះ

That house

1

ខ្ញុំចង់បានផ្លែឈើនេះ

I want this fruit.

2

តើអ្នកស្គាល់បុរសនោះទេ?

Do you know that man?

1

រឿងនោះសំខាន់ណាស់សម្រាប់ខ្ញុំ

That matter is very important to me.

2

នៅពេលនោះ ខ្ញុំមិនទាន់ដឹងទេ

At that time, I didn't know yet.

1

ផ្ទះឈើចាស់ៗទាំងនោះត្រូវបានគេរុះរើ

Those old wooden houses were demolished.

2

គំនិតនេះហាក់ដូចជាប្លែកបន្តិច

This idea seems a bit strange.

1

បញ្ហានេះហើយដែលយើងត្រូវដោះស្រាយ

This very problem is what we must solve.

2

ក្នុងន័យនេះ យើងឃើញថា...

In this sense, we see that...

1

ឯកសារនេះសោតសឹងតែជាភស្តុតាងមិនអាចប្រកែកបាន

This document, moreover, is almost undeniable evidence.

Facile à confondre

Demonstrative Pronouns 'Nih' and 'Noh' (This and That) vs Nih vs Neng

Learners use 'nih' for everything, but 'neng' is used for things near the listener.

Erreurs courantes

✗

នេះ ឡាន (Nih lan)

✓

ឡាន នេះ (Lan nih)

Demonstratives must follow the noun.
✗

នោះ ផ្ទះ (Noh pteah)

✓

ផ្ទះ នោះ (Pteah noh)

Demonstratives must follow the noun.
✗

Nih for far things

✓

Noh for far things

Nih is only for things close to you.
✗

ឡាន នេះ ក្រហម (Lan nih krahom)

✓

ឡាន ក្រហម នេះ (Lan krahom nih)

Adjectives usually come before the demonstrative.
✗

Using 'nih' for the past

✓

Using 'noh' for the past

Past events are 'far' in time, so use 'noh'.
✗

នេះ មែនទេ? (Nih men te?)

✓

មួយនេះ មែនទេ? (Muoy nih men te?)

It is more natural to add a classifier like 'muoy' (one) when pointing.

Structures de phrases

ខ្ញុំចូលចិត្ត ___ នេះ

___ នោះ ថ្លៃណាស់

Real World Usage

Street Food Stall constant

យកមួយនេះ (Take this one)

Giving Directions very common

ផ្លូវនោះ (That road)

Texting very common

រឿងហ្នឹង/រឿងនោះ (That matter/story)

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💡

The 'Touch' Test

If you can touch it without walking, use 'nih'. If you have to walk to it, use 'noh'.
⚠️

Word Order

Never say 'Nih [Noun]'. It sounds like you are starting a sentence 'This is a [Noun]' rather than saying 'This [Noun]'.
🎯

Pluralizing

To say 'these' or 'those', add 'teang' before the demonstrative: 'sievphov teang nih'.

Smart Tips

Say 'Muoy nih' (One this) instead of just 'Nih'. It sounds much more like a native speaker.

Nih. → Muoy nih.

Always use 'noh' (that) for abstract ideas or things in the past conversation.

Reuang nih l'or. (This story is good - sounds like you are holding it) → Reuang noh l'or. (That story [you told] is good)

Prononciation

/niʔ/

The 'h' in Nih

The final 'h' is a soft aspiration, almost like a short breath out.

/nuh/

Noh Vowel

In casual speech, 'Noh' often sounds like 'Nuh' with a very short vowel.

Rising Distal

Nohhhhh?

Used to ask 'That one way over there?' with emphasis on distance.

Mémorise-le

Moyen mnémotechnique

Nih is Near (both start with N), Noh is Not near.

Association visuelle

Imagine holding an apple in your hand (Nih) and pointing to a coconut tree across the field (Noh).

Rhyme

Nih is here, Noh is there; point with care, everywhere!

Story

A traveler arrives in Phnom Penh. He touches his 'bag nih' (this bag) and looks at the 'Palace noh' (that palace) in the distance.

Word Web

នេះ (nih)នោះ (noh)ទីនេះ (ti-nih - here)ទីនោះ (ti-noh - there)ទាំងនេះ (teang-nih - these)

Défi

Walk around your room. Touch 5 items and say '[Item Name] nih'. Then point to 5 items out the window and say '[Item Name] noh'.

Notes culturelles

Pointing with a single finger is common but pointing at people can be seen as slightly rude; use a whole hand gesture instead.

In markets, 'nih' is often replaced by 'neng' (ហ្នឹង) which means 'that one near you' (the seller).

Derived from Old Khmer demonstrative roots found in 7th-century inscriptions.

Amorces de conversation

“

តើអ្នកចូលចិត្តអាវនេះទេ? (Do you like this shirt?)

“

តើនេះជាអ្វី? (What is this?)

“

តើអ្នកចាំរឿងនោះបានទេ? (Do you remember that story?)

Sujets d'écriture

Describe 3 things on your desk using 'nih'.
Write about a memory from 'that year' (ឆ្នាំនោះ).
Compare two cities: 'City nih' vs 'City noh'.

Erreurs courantes

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

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Test Yourself

How do you say 'This book'? Choix multiple

Choose the correct order:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: សៀវភៅ នេះ
The noun 'sievphov' must come before the demonstrative 'nih'.
Fill in the blank for 'That house' (far away).

ផ្ទះ ___

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: នោះ
Noh (នោះ) is used for distal/far objects.
Correct the sentence: 'Nih chea lan nih' (This is this car). Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

នេះជាឡាននេះ

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: នេះជាឡាន
To say 'This is a car', use 'Nih chea lan'.

Score: /3

Exercices pratiques

3 exercises
How do you say 'This book'? Choix multiple

Choose the correct order:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: សៀវភៅ នេះ
The noun 'sievphov' must come before the demonstrative 'nih'.
Fill in the blank for 'That house' (far away).

ផ្ទះ ___

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: នោះ
Noh (នោះ) is used for distal/far objects.
Correct the sentence: 'Nih chea lan nih' (This is this car). Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

នេះជាឡាននេះ

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: នេះជាឡាន
To say 'This is a car', use 'Nih chea lan'.

Score: /3

FAQ (6)

Yes, but it's more polite to say `អ្នកនេះ` (neak nih - this person) or `គាត់នេះ` (koat nih) rather than just pointing.

They are the same word. 'Nuh' is just the common spoken pronunciation of the written word 'noh'.

Add `ទាំង` (teang) before `នេះ`. Example: `របស់ទាំងនេះ` (these things).

Khmer usually just uses `នោះ` but stretches the vowel sound to indicate extra distance.

`ហ្នឹង` (neng) specifically means 'that thing near you' or 'that thing we just talked about'. It is very common in conversation.

No, Khmer grammar does not have grammatical gender. 'Nih' and 'noh' are always the same.

Scaffolded Practice

1

1

2

2

3

3

4

4

Mastery Progress

Needs Practice

Improving

Strong

Mastered

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In Other Languages

Spanish moderate

este / ese / aquel

Spanish demonstratives change for gender/number; Khmer's are invariant.

Japanese moderate

kore / sore / are

Japanese demonstratives come before the noun; Khmer's come after.

German low

dieser / jener

German demonstratives decline for case and gender; Khmer's never change.

Arabic moderate

hadha / dhalika

Arabic demonstratives precede the noun and agree in gender/number.

Learning Path

Prerequisites

Previous
Superlatives with 'Cheang-Ke'
Next
Conjunction 'Ning' vs 'Haey-ning' (And for Nouns vs. Clauses)

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