Most temples’ names in the Angkor area make use of special terms from the Khmer language. Here you can see a list comprising some of those terms and examples:
- Angkor: Literally means “city”. Angkor comes from the Sanskrit word nagara.
- Banteay: It means “citadel” or “fortress” and it’s used for walled temples.
- Baray: It means “reservoir”.
- Phnom: It means “mountain” or “hill”. Even small hills are named Phnom.
- Prasat: It means “temple”. Prasat comes from the Sanskrit word prasada.
- Preah: It means “God” or “King” and it can also be used as adjective meaning “sacred” or “holy”. ( For instance, Preah Khan means sacred sword.)
- Srei: It means “woman”. (For instance, Banteay Srei means citadel of women.)
- Ta: It means “grandfather”, or sometimes “ancestor”. (For instance, Ta Prohm means Ancestor Brahma.)
- Thom: It means “large”. (For instance, Angkor Thom means large city.)
- Wat: It comes from the Sanskrit word vattaram and it means “temple”. (For instance, Angkor Wat means temple city.)
It´s pretty easy, right? Just with these few words you are able to understand most Angkorian temple names. Here we go:
Khmer terms of Angkor: Try by yourself
- Angkor Wat = city temple / temple city
- Angkor Thom = city large / large city
- Banteay Srei = citadel of women
- Preah Khan = sacred sword
- Prasat Kravan = Temple Artabotrys Odoratissimus : -)
- Ta Prohm = ancestor Brahma
- Wat Bo = Even not knowing the meaning of Bo, now you know this is a temple! :)
Affiliate*
Phare, the Cambodian Circus
A highlight in Siem Reap! Buy tickets online directly on the Circus Phare website*.
Cambodia
Discover the best things to do in Cambodia. Book tickets and activities online with our best price guarantee! Read reviews about top tours and attractions in Cambodia.
Powered by GetYourGuide
Links and references with a * are an affiliate link (advertising link). If you like Visit Angkor and buy, book or subscribe to something via an affiliate link, the provider will make a small commission for Visit Angkor. Of course, there are no additional costs for you.
Join our Facebook group
International travel group with friendly people who love Cambodia. We speak English, German and a little Khmer.
By the way: We write here at Visit Angkor with a lot of passion and love. Nevertheless, it can happen that information is no longer up to date or perhaps even incorrect. We would be happy to hear from you so that we can update the information accordingly. Thank you very much!
I enjoyed a trip thru Cambodia a few years ago and have been confused by the use of the terms prasat, preah, and wat. Thankyou for the list, and clarification of the terms it has been most helpful.
Hi Lyn, thank you for your comment. Makes me happy, that the article helps :)
Hello,
I’ve wanted to comment for a long time, but I tried to do some research before doing so. I mean absolutely no offense by it. From what I have come to understand about Khmer Nomenclature, the word “Preah” (ព្រះ) cannot mean “God” or “King” but means sacred or beloved. I think I might be correct because Preah is used very often for the various important religious figures in Theravada Buddhism Mythology, even the Buddha too. So, if it did mean God or King then Khmer Buddhist would say that the Buddha was a God or evenn the highest God. It wouldn’t make sense if it did mean God or King either because the many most important religious figures’ names aren’t said/written before saying Preah before thier name. But it would make sense if, as many agree (I think), only mean beloved or sacred. Plus, if it did mean God or King then it would be a word strictly reserved for when referring to the Buddha only. It’s all still confusing because the Buddha is pretty much considered the ultimate most important figure in existence to Khmer Buddhist, so you would think they’d have a seperate specific suffix word for him or reserve the word Preah specifically for him only. I always think it sorta has been in English because when English speakers talk about him they say “the” Buddha but they don’t for example say like the Shiva. So when they say the Buddha it sort of emphasizes, in English, at least, that he is the most important figure in life. To me it just seems like Khmer Buddhist do not have a word to express that he the most important, but for English speakers using the word “the” before saying the Buddha’s name helps them understand that he is to them.
Many customs, words and things about Khmer culture still have yet or ever will be able to be accurately translated into Western originating languages, I guess.
I’d love your opinion (in a non-aggresive manner) or if you’d rather talk or send it elsewhere I am open to other forms of communication, if you can provide yours.
Best,
Tony
PS: If not, thank you so much for reading.