Kambuja
/kæmˈbuːdʒə/noun
An ancient Sanskrit name associated with the Cambodian region and people, especially in historical and literary contexts.
Did you know?Kambuja is a Sanskritized historical name tied to Khmer/Cambodian identity, preserved in inscriptions and later literary traditions as a prestige ethnonym rather than a modern everyday word.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient India
Sanskrit
Kamboja
“An ancient people and region mentioned in Sanskrit sources”
Classical/Medieval Sanskrit
Sanskrit
Kambuja
“A Sanskritized form used for a Cambodian people or realm in later historical usage”
Medieval Khmer
Khmer
Kambujā / Kampujā
“A learned or prestige designation connected with the Cambodian polity”
Early Modern Period
European languages
Cambodia
“European adaptation of the name for the Cambodian kingdom”
Modern English
English
Kambuja
“A historical or scholarly name associated with Cambodia or Khmer identity”