'''Burmese''' (???????????? ''ba ma za ga'') is the official and primary language of Myanmar. It is closely related to Tibetan, and distantly related to Chinese. The government uses the term "Myanmar" to describe the language, although most continue to refer to the language as "Burmese".

Grammar

Burmese word order is subject-object-verb, unlike English word order, which is subject-verb-object. Subjects and objects are omitted when such is implied in context. As a rule, all objects must be attached to a ''-go'' particle.

Burmese has an array of honorifics. Its grammar also contains many prefixes and suffixes indicating tense and mood.

The Burmese often use family names such as "brother", "sister", "auntie" in place of "you" and "I".

Pronunciation guide

  • -'k'
  • such as in Kyai''k''tiyo (a Buddhist pilgrimage site), which is pronounced chaih-TEE-ou.
  • -'ne'
  • such as Mawlamyi''ne'' (a city in Myanmar), which is pronounced mau-la-myain.
  • -'ng'
  • such as in Sagai''ng'' (a city in Myanmar), which is pronounced za-gainh.
  • -'m'
  • such as in dha''m''ma (a Buddhist term), which is pronounced dha-MA. (A special case accompanies -''m''. For example, ''lam'', which means "street", is pronounced ''lan'', with an -''n''.)
  • -'r'
  • such as in Myanma''r'', which is pronounced myan-MA.
  • -'t'
  • such as in Tha''t''byinnyu (a temple in Bagan), which is pronounced thah-BYIN-nyu. Burmese is a '''tonal''' language, consisting of four tones (low, high, creaky, checked). All dialects of Burmese in Myanmar adhere to this rule, although vocabulary usage varies from region to region.

    Burmese is written using the Burmese script, which is based on an ancient Indian script called Pali. Its alphabet contains 34 letters, which look like circles or semi-circles. The Burmese script also contains many tone marks and sound modifying marks.

    Burmese uses an English-based romanisation system.

    Vowels

    Burmese has a complicated set of vowels, containing 12 vowels.

    Diphthongs

    ; ai : like the 'i' in site ; au : like the 'ou' in out; always used with a consanant ending ; ei : like the 'a' in ache ; ou : like the 'oa' in moat

    Monophthongs

    ; a : like the 'a' in mama ; e : like the 'e' in she ; i : like the 'ea' in meat ; o : like the 'o' in tote ; u : like the 'ew' in lewd ; ih : like the 'i' in trip

    Consonants

    Burmese consanants are aspirated (contains an 'h' sound) and unaspirated (does not contain an 'h' sound).

    Aspirated and unaspirated consanants are romanised irregularly, because a uniform system does not yet exist.

    ; b : like the 'b' in bat ; d : like the 'd' in dagger ; g : like the 'g' in gap ; h : like the 'h' in house ; k : like the 'k' in tanker ; kh: like the 'c' in cat ; ky: like the 'j' in jeep ; l : like the 'l' in love ; m : like the 'm' in mad ; n : like the 'n' in nut ; ng : like the 'ng' in dancing ; ny : like the 'ni' in onion ; p : like the 'p' in ; ph : like the 'p' in pig ; r : becomes a 'y', or is silent ; s : like a 's' in sing, or becomes a 'th' sound ; shw: like the 'sh' in shack ; hs : like a 's' in sound ; t : like a 't' in that ; th : like a 't' in tongue ; w : like a 'w' in win ; y : like a 'y' in young ; z : like a 'z' in zoo

    Phrase list

  • ''ma'' + ____ + ''bu''
  • used to mean that the verb was not accomplished. Example: ''Nei '''ma kaing bu''''', which means "You did not touch it".
  • ''ma'' + ____ + ''neh''
  • used to mean that the verb must not be accomplished. Example: ''Nei '''ma kaing neh''''', which means "You do not touch it."

    Basics

    ; Hello. : ???????. (''Min ga la ba.'') ; Hello. (''informal'') : . (''Nei kaon ye la?'') ; How are you? : ? (''Nei kaon la?'') ; Fine, thank you. : . (''Ne kaon ba de'') ; What is your name? : ? (''Kamya ye na mee ba le?'') ; My name is ______ . : ______ . (''Kya nau na mee _____ ba.'') ; Nice to meet you. : . (''Twe ya da wanta ba de'') ; Please. : . (''Kyeizu pyu yue '') ; Thank you. : . (''Kyeizu tin ba de.'') ; You're welcome. : . (''Ya ba de.'') ; Yes. : . (''Ho de.'') ; No. : . (''Ma ho bu.'') ; Excuse me. (''getting attention'') : ??????? (''Ka mya?'') ; Excuse me. (''begging pardon'') : . ('' '') ; I'm sorry. : . (''saw-re-be '') ; Goodbye : . (''Thwa dau me'') ; Goodbye (''informal'') : . (''Thwa dau me'') ; I can't speak ''name of language'' [well]. : [ ]. ('' [ba ma za ga go [kaung-kaung] ma pyaw thet bu.]'') ; Do you speak English? : ? ('' in glei za ga go pyaw thet de la?'') ; Is there someone here who speaks English? : ? (''In glei za-ga pyaw thet de lu di ma shi la?'') ; Help! : ! (''A ku nyi lo de!'') ; Look out! : ! (''Ai ya! Kyi!'') ; Good morning. : . (''Mingalaba '')

    ; Good night (''to sleep'') : . (''Eigh douh meh '') ; I don't know. : . ("Kya-nau ma thi bu") ; I don't understand. : . (''Kya-nau na ma ley bu'') ; Where is the toilet? : ? (''Ka mya yei, ein da ga be ma leh'')

    Problems

    Numbers

    Burmese numbers follow the Arabic system of numerals.

    ; 0 : ? (''thoun-nya'') ; 1 : ? (''thi'', ''tha'') ; 2 : ? (''hni'') ; 3 : ? (''thoun'') ; 4 : ? (''lei'') ; 5 : ? (''nga'') ; 6 : ? (''chao'') ; 7 : ? (''kun hni'') ; 8 : ? (''shit'') ; 9 : ? (''ko'') ; 10 : ?? (''se'') ; 11 : ?? (''seh-thi'') ; 12 : ?? (''seh-hnih'') ; 13 : ?? (''seh-thoun'') ; 14 : ?? (''seh-lei'') ; 15 : ?? (''seh-nga'') ; 16 : ?? (''seh-chauk'') ; 17 : ?? (''seh-kuun'') ; 18 : ?? (''seh-shit'') ; 19 : ?? (''seh-kou'') ; 20 : ?? (''hna-seh'') ; 21 : ?? (''hna-seh-thih'') ; 22 : ?? (''hna-seh-hnih'') ; 23 : ?? (''hna-seh-thoun'') ; 30 : ?? (''thoun-zeh'') ; 40 : ?? (''lei-zeh'') ; 50 : ?? (''nga-zeh'') ; 60 : ?? (''chau-seh'') ; 70 : ?? (''kueh-na-seh'') ; 80 : ?? (''shit-seh'') ; 90 : ?? (''ko-zeh'') ; 100 : ??? (''thi-ya'') ; 200 : ??? (''hni-ya'') ; 300 : ??? (''thoun-ya'') ; 500 : ??? (''nga-ya'') ; 1000 : ???? (''tha-taon'') ; 2000 : ???? (''hna-taon'') ; 10,000 : (''se-thaon'') ; number _____ ''(train, bus, etc.)'' : Burmese uses several measure words. As a general rule, use ''ku'' for items, and ''yau'' for persons.

    Time

    ; now : a gu ; later : nao ma ; before : a shei ; morning : ma ne ; afternoon : nei le ; night : nya

    Clock time

    ; What time is it? : Be na nai to bi le? ; It is nine in the morning. : Ko nai to bi. ; Three-thirty PM. : Thoun nai kwe.

    Duration

    ; _____ minute(s) : min-ni (??????) ; _____ hour(s) : nai yi (????) ; _____ day(s) : ye' or nei (???) ; _____ week(s) : ba ; _____ month(s) : la (?) ; _____ year(s) : hni (??????)

    Days

    ; today : di nei ; yesterday : ma nei ; tomorrow : ma ne pyan

    ; this week : di ba ; last week : a yin ba ; next week : nao ba

    ; Sunday : tha nin ga nei (?????????) ; Monday : tha nin la (????????) ; Tuesday : in ga (?????) ; Wednesday : bo ta hu (????????) ; Thursday : kya tha ba dei (??????????) ; Friday : tao kya (???????) ; Saturday : sa nei (???)

    Note: The Burmese calendar consists of 8 days, with one day between Wednesday and Thursday, called ''ya-hu'', although this is purely ceremonial.

    Months

    Writing time and date

    Colors

    ; black : ???? ????? a me yaon ; white : ?????????? a pyu yaon ; gray : ???????????? mi go yaon ; red : ???????? a ni yaon ; blue : ?????????? a pya yaon ; yellow : ???????? a wa yaon ; green : ?????????? a sein yaon ; orange : ????????????? lein mau yaon ; purple : ?????????? ka-yan yaon ; brown : ????????? a nyo yaon ; Do you have it in another color? : Di ha go nao a yaon de she la?

    Transportation

    Bus and train, ship and plane

    Train<br> yeh-ta

    Train Station<br> thu ta yone

    Bus<br> ba(sa) ka

    Bus Stop<br> ka hma tine

    Bus Station<br> ka gey

    Ship<br> thin bau

    Port<br> thin bau sey

    Airplane<br> leyin pyan

    Airport<br> ley yein gun

    Ticket<br> leh hma

    Fare<br> ka

    Depart/Leave<br> tweh

    Arrive<br> yow<br><br>

    Luggage<br> pyit see

    Directions

    <b>Over there</b><br> ho beht<br> <b>Left Side</b><br> beh beht<br> <b>Right Side</b> nya beht

    Taxi

    Is this taxi free? <br> Te ka se ahh tha la

    Lodging

    To Stay<br> theh<br><br> Bed<br> ga din<br><br> Restroom<br> ehn tha<br><br> Shower<br> yay cho khan<br><br> Food<br><br> asar

    Money

    How much is it? <br> Zey beh lout le?<br> <b>Money</b><br> kyat<br><br> one dollar<br> deh kyat<br><br> two dollars<br> neh kyat<br><br> three dollars<br> thone kyat<br><br> four dollars<br> ley kyat<br><br> five dollars<br> nga kyat<br><br> six dollars<br> chowt kyat<br><br> seven dollars<br> cuni kyat<br><br> eight dollars<br> sheh kyat<br><br> nine dollars<br> coh kyat<br><br> ten dollars<br> se kyat<br><br> twenty dollars<br> neh se kyat<br><br> twenty-five dollars<br> neh se nga kyat<br> or more commonly<br> a sait <br><br> fifty dollars<br> nga se kyat<br><br> one hundred dollars<br> tayar kyat<br><br> When refering to US currency, it is important to remember to say "dollar" before the specified amount<br> For example US $50 would be "dollar nga se".

    Eating

    I am hungry.<br> Nga bite sa de.<br><br> Where do you want to go eat?<br> Beh sau thot sine thwa meh le?<br><br> I can only drink bottled water<br> Kha naw ye bu ye be thouk lo ya de<br><br> Are there any napkins (Can I have one?)<br> napkin she tha la<br><br> Fried foods<br> uh chaw sa<br><br> Noodles<br> cow sweh<br><br> Rice (white)<br> htamin<br><br> Fried rice<br> htamin chaw<br><br> Ice<br> yey ghe<br><br> Ice cream bar <br> yey ghe mou<br><br> Sugar<br> de ja<br><br> Salt<br> sa<br><br> MSG<br> a cho mout<br><br> Potato<br> ah lou<br><br> Vegetable<br> a yweh<br><br> Fruit<br> a thee<br><br> Banana<br> nguh pyaw thee<br><br> Apple<br> pun thee<br><br> Apple Juice<br> pun thee yay<br><br> Grapes<br> duh beh thee<br><br> Durian<br> doo hinh thee<br><br> Orange<br> lei maw thee<br><br> Chicken<br> chet tha<br><br> Beef<br> ameh tha<br><br> Goat<br> seit tha<br><br> Lamb<br> tho tha<br><br> Fish<br> nga<br><br>

    Bars

    <br> Beer/Alcohol<br> ayet<br><br> Round (As in "A round of beers")<br> pweh<br><br> Ciggaretts<br> sei lait<br><br> Glass<br> kwut<br><br>

    Shopping

    Store<br> sine<br><br> Clothes<br> ain gee<br><br> Pants<br> boun bee<br><br> Shoes<br> punuht<br><br> Bra<br> bou le<br><br> Ring<br> lut sout<br><br> Socks<br> chey sout<br><br> House<br> ehn<br><br> Purse/Wallet<br> puh sun eight<br><br> Backpack<br> saw ough eight<br><br> Movies<br> youh shin<br><br>

    Driving

    Car<br> ka<br><br> Stop<br> yet/ho<br><br> Go/Drive<br> thwa/moun<br><br> Traffic Light<br> Mee point<br><br>

    Authority

    Adminitstration<br> oh cho yey

    Prime Minister<br> wan-jee cho

    President<br> thanmada

    Vice President<br> duteya thanmada

    Military<br> tatmadaw

    Chairman<br> oh ga taw

    Parliament<br> hluttaw

    Politics<br> nine-nga yey