Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “Siem Reap” come from?

Siem Reap (English) comes from Khmer សៀមរាប, from Khmer រាប, from Thai รับ, from Proto-Southwestern Tai rapᴰ²ˢ — to accept; to receive.

Ancestry of “Siem Reap”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Khmerសៀមរាប—
2Khmerរាបsmooth, level, even, flat; quiet, motionless;...
3Thaiรับto greet; to receive; to welcome; to acquire; to...
4Proto-Southwestern Tairapᴰ²ˢto accept; to receive
Every word from Proto-Southwestern Tai rapᴰ²ˢ →