In the heart of Phnom Penh’s historic district, the SOSORO Museum has just opened a new interactive exhibition that will delight language lovers, culture buffs, and curious travelers alike. “Angkêt de mots: When Khmer Meets French” explores the fascinating encounter between the Khmer and French languages, and how more than a century of contact has shaped everyday speech in Cambodia.
Hosted in the former Bank of Indochina building, recently integrated into the SOSORO Museum complex, the exhibition adds a new cultural highlight to any Phnom Penh city tour, just a short walk from the riverside and the Royal Palace area.
A playful journey through Khmer-French words
Curated by linguist Jean-Michel Filippi, “Angkêt de mots” invites visitors on a historical, linguistic, and interactive journey through the many French-origin words that have entered the Khmer language. From colonial-era administration to café culture and modern education, the exhibition shows how these words were adopted, transformed, and reinvented over time.
Designed in Khmer and French, the exhibition combines interpretive panels, archival documents, videos, games, and immersive recreations inspired by Cambodia’s Sangkum era, one of the country’s most iconic and stylish periods. Interactive stations encourage visitors to play with word formation, test their knowledge, and even join a karaoke corner where Khmer and French songs blend into a joyful linguistic mix.
Cambodia, Francophonie and living heritage
“Angkêt de mots” opens in a special year for the Kingdom, as Cambodia prepares to host the 20th Francophonie Summit. By highlighting shared vocabulary and cultural exchanges, the exhibition brings to life the enduring ties that connect Cambodia with the wider Francophone world.
For families, students, and school groups, the SOSORO team has prepared an activity booklet in both Khmer and French, turning the visit into a hands-on learning experience. As Co-Director Blaise Kilian notes, this is one of the museum’s most audiovisual and playful productions yet, designed as a participatory experience rather than a traditional static display.
Practical information for visitors
The exhibition “Angkêt de mots: When Khmer Meets French” is presented in the former Bank of Indochina building at the corner of Streets 13 and 106, within the SOSORO Museum complex in central Phnom Penh. It is open to the public from Tuesday to Sunday, 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., and admission is free of charge, making it an easy addition to any cultural itinerary in the Cambodian capital.
Created by the National Bank of Cambodia, the SOSORO Museum focuses on Cambodia’s economic and monetary history using innovative displays and cutting-edge technology, and has already welcomed more than 180,000 visitors, half of them students and children. With “Angkêt de mots,” the museum strengthens its role as a leading cultural destination for both locals and international travelers interested in Cambodia’s past, present, and future.
WordPress Excerpt (2–3 sentences) Discover “Angkêt de mots: When Khmer Meets French,” a free interactive exhibition at Phnom Penh’s SOSORO Museum exploring Khmer-French language links in a playful way.
