This is a common command in my house, directed from my host mom to my host nephew, who inevitably wants to play every time I try to read or work or think. I, or course, am "older French sibling," since the word for French has been co-opted to mean foreigners in general. The humor of it hit me one day, and I decided it was about time for another quiz for you. Can you come up with the English equivalents of these literal translations from Khmer?

1. To fry uncooked
2. Street eyebrow
3. Bee tiger
4. To raise heart water
5. To peel to turn over
6. Rice house
7. Fire flowers
8. To cross river
9. Protect hat
10. Eye water
11. To practice life
12. Activity to show to lead to give to know
13. To be friends near hand of bananas together
14. Medicine to eliminate bad smell
15. Expensive mother

...

Ready for the answers?

...

1. To bother
2. Sidewalk
3. Bear
4. To encourage
5. To translate
6. Kitchen
7. Sparks
8. To give birth
9. Helmet
10. Tears
11. To exercise
12. Introduction
13. To be close friends
14. Deodorant
15. Mother-in-law

So you get awesome sentences like, "Don't forget your medicine to eliminate bad smell when you go to practice life," and "There will be much eye water when I say goodbye to my near hand of bananas friends." Beautiful, isn't it?