The Khmer language, also called Cambodian and is the official language of Cambodia, is spoken by approximately 16 million speakers, and is quite an interesting and long history. The main dialect spoken Central Khmer, given that the central plains are where the most people are concentrated.  is part of the Austroasiatic language family, which is primarily spoken by the Khmer people in Cambodia and parts of Vietnam, Thailand, and Laos. Its origins can be traced back to ancient times, with roots that extend as far as the 5th century CE. The earliest forms of the language were influenced by Sanskrit and Prakrit, which were brought into the region through Indian traders and missionaries. During the Angkor period (9th to 15th century), Khmer flourished, especially as the empire's elite adopted Sanskrit as the language of religion and administration, while the common people continued to speak Old Khmer. 

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The writing history of Khmer is also quite long - with written examples dating back to the 7th century, with the earliest known example from 611 A.D. Over time, the language evolved, and during the colonial period in the 19th and 20th centuries, French influence led to the introduction of some French vocabulary into Khmer. In the 20th century, Khmer underwent standardization, and modern reforms in spelling and grammar aimed to simplify the language, especially after the Khmer Rouge regime (1975–1979), which sought to eliminate much of the intellectual and linguistic diversity in Cambodia. Despite these challenges, the Khmer language remains a vital part of Cambodia’s identity and culture, with approximately 16 million speakers today.​