The Khmer are the largest ethnic group in Cambodia, numbering about 7 million. Khmer minorities also live in east Thailand and south Vietnam. The
Khmer language belongs to the Mon-Khmer family of Austro-Asiatic languages. The Khmers live mainly in agricultural and fishing villages under a chief. They practise Theravada Buddhism and tracedescent through both male and female lines. Traditionally, Khmer society was divided into six groups: the royal family, the Brahmans (who officiated at royal festivals), Buddhist monks, officials, commoners, and slaves. Research Khmer