Palatal ch chh j jh nh, ñ
Retroflex t, d th d dh n
dental t,d th d,t dh n
Labial p ,b ph b,p bh m
Semivowels y r l v
sibilants s
Voiced h
Nasals ng nh/ñ n n m
Combinations of consonants
k (basic voiceless)+ h(aspirant)=kh become a voiceless aspirated consonant.
so kh, gh, chh, jh,dh, dh, ph, and bh, except nh=ñ, and ch = ts.
Sound ng=nk when ng combines with k is ngk, like Angkor, g could be left out and then Angkor becomes Ankor without different sound.
n+ch, or n+chh = nh or ñ +ch or nh+chh= ñch or ñchh like bañchôl (input), bañchap(ended), bañchók(feed), kañchap(bag). ñj like sañjeat(nationality), doubled ññ like saññaa (sign).
some consonants have two sounds like t,d and p,b interchanged in Khmer language like pitaa read beidaa( father), Taaraa is daaraa(star).
In row-3, retroflex consonants are reserved for Sanskrit/Pali like rattha (state), patham(first), mandal(circle) because they soundlike the, them, thin in English. Khmer uses them like dental consonants: t, d, th, dh, and n.
Semivowels: y partly sound like i, e, ei, ai. v partly sounds like u, o, au,ou like ou(daddy),pou or pov ( last child), au , au, av ( shirt). r and l in Sanskrit like kirti or kerti (reputation) dharm(bible or character)
aarya(noble), aaryadharm Khmer( Khmer civilization), kalyaan(good).
Short accent sign (') or banták found keyboard Opt+E + vowel like sák (hair) srás (pretty), kaák (coin).
Sound killer sign (dandaghaat) is not needed because most Sanskrit words are simplified like prayojana(benifit) became prayoj in Khmer transliteration.
Some words like ph'aem( sweet), p'ôn or ôn( younger brother or sister),k'ak(cough) are needed apostrophe to quick stop and produce a sylable and half.
