Avut

avut
or: “Leave Your Weapon With the Guard

Cambodian Commercial Bank circa 2002

“Vuth” is a common nickname in Cambodia, a shortening of a longer name like ‘Daravuth’ or “Sisavuthara”.

CCB today
Anecdote: some Khmers are on their way to an office and see a sign in front: ‘Please leave your weapon (avut) at the door’. “Sorry Vuth,” they say to their friend, “we’ll have to go inside without you.”

These signs used to be pretty common just a decade ago, and you can still see a number around.

By the time I was working in Siem Reap, (2000) this sign was already pretty redundant (and now has disappeared). I’d pretend to check myself, and tell the guard I left my grenades at home.

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One Response to “Avut”

  1. Wanna says:

    Hahaha… a friend of mine named “Daravuth”. We simply call him “Vuth” or more friendly “Ah Vuth”.
    I always bring two grenades along everywhere :)

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