Pronunciation: [pˈɒl pˈɒt] (IPA) 
The spelling of the infamous Cambodian dictator's name is "Pol Pot". In IPA phonetic transcription, the word is pronounced /pɑl pɑt/. The first syllable "Pol" is pronounced with a rounded "o" sound followed by an "l" sound. The second syllable "Pot" is pronounced with a short "o" sound followed by a "t" sound. The correct spelling of names and words is crucial to effective communication and understanding.
Pol Pot (real name Saloth Sar) was a Cambodian political leader and dictator who served as the General Secretary of the Communist Party of Kampuchea from 1963 to 1981. Born on May 19, 1925, Pol Pot was one of the key figures responsible for the Khmer Rouge regime that ruled Cambodia from 1975 to 1979.
Pol Pot implemented radical socialist reforms in Cambodia, attempting to transform the country into a self-sufficient agricultural state. His ideology was influenced by Maoism and he aimed to create a classless society by abolishing money, religion, private property, and traditional social structures.
During his reign, Pol Pot implemented policies that resulted in widespread suffering and death. Forced labor, executions, and mass purges were common, as he sought to eliminate any opposition or perceived threat to his rule. These actions led to the deaths of an estimated 1.7 to 2.5 million people, primarily through starvation, disease, and execution.
The atrocities committed under Pol Pot's regime were tantamount to genocide, as he targeted specific groups such as intellectuals, minority ethnicities, and religious minorities. The Khmer Rouge's oppressive rule finally ended in 1979 when they were overthrown by Vietnamese forces. Pol Pot remained a significant figure within the Khmer Rouge until his death in 1998.
Today, Pol Pot is widely regarded as one of history's most ruthless and brutal dictators, responsible for one of the darkest chapters in human history. His name has become synonymous with oppression, mass killings, and the devastation inflicted upon Cambodia during his regime.
The word Pol Pot is a combination of a nickname and a family name. Pol Pot was born as Saloth Sar on May 19, 1925, in Prek Sbauv village, Kampong Thom province, Cambodia. Pol Pot became his alias, which was derived from the French word Politique, meaning political. It is believed that he adopted this name during his time as a student in France.
The second part of his name, Pot, is his family name. In Khmer, the official language of Cambodia, generational surnames are not commonly used. Instead, given names are followed by family names. The family name Pot is short and straightforward, without any specific meaning or etymology.
Therefore, the term Pol Pot is a combination of an alias derived from the French word Politique and his family name, Pot.
