Cambodia is widely recognized as one of the friendliest countries in the world, with millions of tourists acknowledging its warm hospitality. This reputation is a result of Cambodia’s rich traditions, beliefs, history, and culture. A significant aspect of Cambodian culture is the traditional greeting gesture known as “Sompeah” in Khmer. Despite the influence of foreign cultures, Cambodians continue to embrace and practice “Sompeah” as a common greeting. Similar to its neighboring countries like Thailand, Laos, and Myanmar, Cambodians also press their palms together in a respectful manner when greeting one another. However, there are noticeable differences in the usage of “Sompeah” by Cambodians compared to other countries. Cambodians employ “Sompeah” when encountering others, but the specific manner of the gesture varies depending on the person being greeted. In fact, “Sompeah” is categorized into five levels, each with its own remarkable usage within Cambodian people. Let’s delve into these levels together!
There are 5 levels of Cambodian Greeting “Sampeah“:
- Forehead Level: Press the palms together and put the fingertips at the forehead or sometimes upper. Most commonly, this level is always accompanied by a deep bow or kneeling as it is the highest level of Khmer traditional greeting. This is typically used by the prayers that are offered in reverence to the Budha, Gods, Deva, Brahma, and sacred statues.
- Eyebrow Level: Press the palms together, place the fingertips at the eyebrow level, and come together with bowing or kneeling. This level is generally used for praying to the monks or other sacred objects as Cambodians follow Buddhism. Besides, this level of Sampeah is occasionally shown as a sign of profound respect to the king of the nation or sometimes can be used for the royal family as a courtesy. For instance, once people see or meet their king, they always bow deeply and Sampeah (place the fingertips at the level of the eyebrows).
- Nose Level: Press the palms together, and position the fingertips at the nose’s tip. This Sampeah level is accompanied by bowing that goes even deeper to signify a higher level of respect. It is used to greet the elders, parents, grandparents, teachers, or someone with a higher social standing. For example: Cambodian children use this level to greet their parents or grandparents, whereas students use it to greet their teachers.
- Mouth Level: Press the palms together, and place the fingertips at the mouth level. This is the way that is usually used to greet the higher-ups, bosses, elders, and anybody else who deserves your respect. The bow is also still deeper.
- Chest Level:Press the palms together, put the fingertips at the chest level, and follow with a small nod. This is the most formal level that is generally used to greet friends, coworkers, and other people of similar age or social standing. Not only that, it can be used as a sign of respect from elders or seniors to younger people when they greet them.
While Cambodia and its neighbouring countries have a very similar greeting culture, there are major differences in how greetings are employed and the types of individuals to whom they give respect. Thus, if you are a foreigner engaging with Cambodians, it is crucial to understand all types of Sampeah in order to adapt or avoid awkwardness when interacting with Khmer people. I hope this helps!
