Etymology

From Old Khmer ren or Angkorian Old Khmer ryyan, ryyaṇ, ryyān, ryān ‎(“to apply the mind to: to study, drill, practice; to learn; to acquire knowledge”); compare Modern Khmer រៀន ‎(riĕn). Cognate with Lao ຮຽນ ‎(hīan), Lü ᦵᦣᧃ ‎(hen).

Pronunciation