Vocabulary: Synonyms, Antonyms & Word Relationships (B2) - Lesson 4: Understanding Euphemisms

ESL Cambodia 🇰🇭

Understanding Euphemisms

ការប្រើប្រាស់ពាក្យគួរសម

🛡️

SOFTEN

ធ្វើឱ្យទន់

🕊️

POLITE

គួរសម

What is a Euphemism? 🤔

It is a polite word used instead of a harsh or direct word. Use these in professional settings!

💼 Work & Money (ការងារ)

Blunt: Fired (ត្រូវគេបណ្តេញចេញ)

Let go

/lɛt ɡoʊ/

បញ្ឈប់ពីការងារ (ដោយហេតុផលក្រុមហ៊ុន)

"The company had to let him go."

Blunt: Unemployed (គ្មានការងារធ្វើ)

Between jobs

/bɪˈtwiːn dʒɒbz/

កំពុងរកការងារថ្មី

"I am currently between jobs."

Blunt: Poor (ក្រ)

Economically disadvantaged

/ˌiːkəˈnɒmɪkli ˌdɪsədˈvɑːntɪdʒd/

ខ្វះខាតជីវភាព

"We help economically disadvantaged families."

👵 Life & Age (ជីវិត)

Blunt: Old person (ចាស់)

Senior citizen

/ˈsiːniər ˈsɪtɪzn/

មនុស្សវ័យចំណាស់

"Discounts for senior citizens."

Blunt: Died (ស្លាប់)

Passed away

/pæst əˈweɪ/

ទទួលមរណភាព / ចែកឋាន

"Her grandfather passed away last night."

⚠️ Difficult Topics (ប្រធានបទរសើប)

Blunt: Problem (បញ្ហា)

Challenge / Issue

/ˈtʃælɪndʒ/

ការលំបាក / បញ្ហាប្រឈម

"We are facing some challenges."

Blunt: Fat (ធាត់)

Full-figured

/fʊl ˈfɪɡjərd/

មានសាច់មានឈាម

"Clothing for full-figured women."

Politeness Quiz 🎩

Choose the most polite option!

Your boss asks about a former employee. You say:

Instead of saying someone is "unemployed", you say:

A polite way to say someone "died":

Mission 📝

Rewrite the News

Make it Polite!

Rewrite these blunt sentences in your notebook using Euphemisms.

1. "The old people in the village are poor."

2. "My uncle died because he was fat."

3. "I have a problem with my boss."

(Hint: Use "Senior citizens", "Economically disadvantaged", "Passed away", "Full-figured", "Issue".)