Lesson 5: Places in a Town or Village
Where Are You Going?
Every day, we go to different places1 to work, to shop, to eat, or to learn. This lesson will teach you the English words for common and important places you can find in any town or village, from Siem Reap to the smallest community.
Word Bank: Common Places
| Place | Pronunciation Guide | Khmer | Meaning & Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🛍️ Market2 | (mar-ket) | ផ្សារ | A place to buy food, clothes, and other goods. Example: "I go to the market to buy vegetables." |
| 🏫 School3 | (skool) | សាលារៀន | A place where children and students go to learn. Example: "My little sister goes to school." |
| 🍜 Restaurant4 | (res-tuh-ront) | ភោជនីយដ្ឋាន | A place where you pay to eat meals. Example: "We will eat at a Khmer restaurant." |
| 🏥 Hospital5 | (hos-pi-tal) | មន្ទីរពេទ្យ | A place you go when you are sick or hurt. Example: "He went to the hospital." |
| 🛕 Pagoda6 | (pa-goh-da) | វត្ត | A religious building for worship. Example: "Many people go to the pagoda." |
| 🏠 House7 | (hows) | ផ្ទះ | A building where a person or a family lives. Example: "My house is near the school." |
| 🌳 Park8 | (park) | សួនច្បារ | An open area with grass and trees for relaxing. Example: "Children like to play in the park." |
Usage Note: The Preposition "to"
When we talk about moving from one place to another, we use the verb 'go' with the preposition "to".
Structure: go + to + [a/the] + Place
- I go to the market every morning.
- She is going to the hospital.
- Let's go to a restaurant.
- Exception: We do not use "to" with "home". We say "go home".
In Conversation
Srey and Bora are talking about their weekend plans.
Srey: Hi Bora! What are you doing this weekend?
Bora: On Saturday morning, I will go to the market with my mother.
Srey: That's nice. What about in the afternoon?
Bora: I am taking my little brother to the park. He loves to play there.
Srey: And on Sunday?
Bora: My grandmother is at the hospital, so we will visit her. After that, we will go home.
Srey: I hope she feels better soon. My family is going to a restaurant for dinner.
quiz Check Your Understanding
1. Where do you go when you are very sick?
- a) The park
- b) The hospital
- c) The school
Click to see the answer
Answer: b) The hospital
2. Choose the correct sentence.
- a) I go to home now.
- b) I go at home now.
- c) I go home now.
Click to see the answer
Answer: c) I go home now.
3. Where do people buy fresh vegetables and fish?
- a) In a shop
- b) In a pagoda
- c) In a market
Click to see the answer
Answer: c) In a market
edit Your Mission
- My Village/Town: Draw a simple map of your area. Draw and label three places in English (e.g., school, market, my house).
- Practice Sentences: Write two sentences about places you go. (e.g., "On Monday, I go to school. On Sunday, I go to the pagoda.")
- Speak: Your mission is to ask a friend, "Where are you going today?". Listen for the place they say.
book Lesson Glossary
- Place (noun) - Khmer: កន្លែង (kânlaeng) - A particular position, point, or area. ↩
- Market (noun) - Khmer: ផ្សារ - A place where people buy and sell food and goods. ↩
- School (noun) - Khmer: សាលារៀន - A place where children go to learn. ↩
- Restaurant (noun) - Khmer: ភោជនីយដ្ឋាន - A place where you pay to eat meals. ↩
- Hospital (noun) - Khmer: មន្ទីរពេទ្យ - A place you go when you are sick to see a doctor. ↩
- Pagoda (noun) - Khmer: វត្ត - A religious building for Buddhist worship. ↩
- House (noun) - Khmer: ផ្ទះ - A building where a person or a family lives. ↩
- Park (noun) - Khmer: សួនច្បារ - An open, public area with grass and trees. ↩