How to read parts of speech in a Khmer dictionary
Use the part-of-speech label to narrow your choices, then read the definition and any usage example to pick the sense that fits your sentence. In the RAC dictionary entries used by Khmer Dictionary 2026, កិ. marks a verb and ន. marks a noun. The headword កក់ has entries with both labels.
Read the label beside the entry
The abbreviation កិ. stands for កិរិយា, or verb. The abbreviation ន. stands for នាម, or noun. Khmer Dictionary 2026 displays grammatical labels where available, and you may see the full Khmer name in a badge. Begin by finding the entry that matches the word you saw.
Ask what the word is doing in the sentence. If the sentence uses it for an action, start with the verb senses. If it names something, look at the noun senses. Then read the definition in that entry and check whether it fits the surrounding words.
Compare meanings of កក់
One verb entry for កក់ describes washing hair and gives កក់សក់ as an example. If you encounter that phrase, the mention of hair is a clue to check this sense. A different verb entry describes soaking something. It uses the same grammatical label, so compare the explanations before choosing.
One noun entry for កក់ describes a water grass used for making mats. If the passage discusses a plant used in mat making, that definition gives you another sense to consider. Use the plant definition when that meaning fits the sentence you are reading.
- Copy the word and a few surrounding words from the sentence you are reading.
- Check the noun and verb labels for the matching headword.
- Compare definitions within the relevant grammatical category.
- Read an available example and return to the original sentence.
Inspect the entry in Khmer Dictionary 2026
Search for កក់ in Khmer Dictionary 2026 and open the matching result that interests you. Read the grammatical badge where present, then inspect the Khmer definition and any example the entry includes. If the first definition does not fit the sentence, inspect another definition for that spelling.
You can keep a short study note with the headword, label, and phrase that helped you choose the meaning. For the hair-washing example, record the verb label and the phrase containing សក់. This makes it easier to recognize that particular use when you see the headword again.
Use the definition when a label is unavailable
Some entries have more context than others. If you do not see a label or example, use the definition and the words around the headword in your own sentence. Compare the other entries for that spelling before settling on a meaning. Leave the grammatical category open if the entry and sentence give you too little information.
Questions
Can the same headword have both a noun and a verb entry?
Yes. The bundled entries for កក់ include both. Compare the definitions to find which entry fits your sentence.
Can two entries have the same grammatical label?
Yes. Several entries for កក់ are marked as verbs. The definitions and usage context distinguish the senses.
Where can I check how the word is read?
Look for the written pronunciation field when it is available. Use the grammatical label and definition to choose the sense you are reading about.