Burmese Phrasebook

Survival Phrases in Myanmar

by Naing Tinnyuntpu
MP3 audio files are available in the website.

Emergency Requests
Numbers
Time Expressions
Cities, places, and destinations
Asking Questions
Greetings, Basic Conversation, and saying Good-bye
Tone Reference Table
Revision History

Emergency Situations and Making Requests

The word "me" or "for me" is implicitly implied.

u,f=uyg u,f=uyg
rD; rD;
olc;dk olcdk;
"g;jy "g;jy
vrf;jyay;yg ?
ulnDay;ygOD; ?
ydk h
aq;cef;ydk hay;yg ?
aq;&Hkydk hay;yg ?
blwm&Hkydk hay;yg ?
avqdyyf dk hay;yg ?
qdyu
f rf;ydk hay;yg ?
ta0;ajy;um;*dwfydk hay;yg?
pg;aomufqdkifydk hay;yg ?
wnf;cdck ef;ydk hay;yg ?
teD;qH;k aq;cef;ydk hay;yg ?

Keare2 (as in "Carry" ) ja1 ba2

Help! Help! Rescue (me)

Mi3 ...Mi3...

Fire! Fire!

Tha1-kho3... Tha1-kho3

Thief! Thief!

Da1-mya1... Da1-mya1

Robbery! Robbery! ( Lit: Robber)

Lun3 pya1 pay3 ba2

Help (me) show the way.

Ku2 nyi2 pay2 ba2 ome3

Please help (me).

po1

to take (as in to transport); to send

Hsay3-khan3 po1 pay3 ba2

Please take (me) to the clinic.

Hsay3-yone2 po1 pay3 ba2

Please take (me) to the hospital.

Bu2-da1-yone2 po1 pay3 ba2

Please take (me) to the train station.

Lay2-zate po1 pay3 ba2

Please take (me) to the airport.

Hsate-kun3 po1 pay3 ba2

Please take (me) to the seaport.

A-way3-pyay3 ka3 gate po1 pay3 ba2

Take me to long distance bus station.

Sa3-thout-hsine2 po1 pay3 ba2

Please take (me) to the restaurant.

Teare3-kho2-khan3 po1 pay3 ba2

Please take (me) to the guest house.

A-ni3-zone3 hsay3-khan3 po1 pay3

ba2

Take (me) to the nearest clinic.

teD;qH;k [dw
k ,fydk hay;yg ?
tdro
f moGm;csiw
f ,f?
tdro
f m&dSvm;?
tdro
f mb,frmS &dSvJ?

A-ni3-zone3 ho2-teare2 po1 pay3 ba2

Take (me) to the nearest hotel.

Ain2-tha2 thwa3 chin2 deare2

I want to go to the toilet.

Ain2-tha2 shi1 la3

Is there a toilet?

Ain2-tha2 beare2 hma2 shi1 leare3

Where is the toilet?

ta&;ay:
zkef;
ta&;ay:zkef;ac:ay;yg ?
q&m0efac:ay;yg ?
&Jac:ay;yg ?
tiSm;,mOfac:ay;yg ?
wuUpD ac:ay;yg ?
vlac:ay;yg ?
jrif;vSnf;ac:ay;yg ?
pufavSac:ay;yg ?
{nfv
h rf;n$efac:ay;yg ?
taz:wpfa,mufac:ay;yg ?
vrf;jywpfa,mufac:ay;yg
xnfh
vrf;jywpfa,mufxnfhay;yg
eSpf&ufpg
&dumQ
eSpf&ufpg&dumQ xnfhay;yg ?
ajcvsifawmifvrf;c&D;
a':vmvJay;yg ?
t0wfav#mfay;yg ?
&Sm
tcef;&Smay;yg ?
,mOfarmif;&Smay;yg ?
thJ'g o,fay;yg ?

A-yay3-pau2

Emergency

Pfone3

Phone

A-yay3-pau2 pfone3 khau2 pay3 ba2

Please call emergency (phone for me).

Hsa1-ya2-woon2 khau2 pay3 ba2

Please call (for me) a doctor.

Yeare3 khau2 pay3 ba2

Please call police (for me).

A-hnga3-yin2 khau2 pay3 ba2

Please call rental vehicle (for me).

Tet-si2 khau2 pay3 ba2

Please call taxi (for me).

Lu2 khau2 pay3 ba2

Please call someone (for me).

Myin3-hleare3 khau2 pay3 ba2

Please call horse-driven carriage

Set-hlay2 khau3 pay3 ba2

Please call me a motorized boat.

Eare1-lun3-hnyoon2 khau2 pay3 ba2

Please call me a tourist guide.

A-pfau2 ta1 yout khau2 pay3 ba2

Please call me a companion.

Lun3-pya1 ta1 yout khau2 pay3 ba2

Call me a guide (to show the way).

hteare1

to come along with; to include or insert

Lun3-pya1 ta1 yout hteare1 pay3 ba2

Please include a guide (for the trip).

Hna1-yet sa2

for two days

Yate-kha2

food and supplies

Hna1-yet sa2 yate-kha2 hteare1 pay3 ba2 Please include supplies for two days
Chay2-Hlyin2 toun2-lun3 kha1-yi3

Hiking trip (on foot + hill path + journey)

Dau2-la2 leare3 pay3 ba2

Please exchange dollar for me.

A-woot shau2 pay3 ba2

Can you wash the clothes (for me) ?

sha2

to search for

A-khan3 sha2 pay3 ba2

Can you find a room (for me)?

Yin2-moun3 sha2 pay3 ba2

Please help me find a driver.

Eare3 da3 theare2 pay3 ba2

Please help me carry that (object).

Numbers

12345
6 7 8 9 10

Tit - Hnit - Thone3 - Lay3 - Nga3

one - two -three - four - five

Chout - Khoon nit - Shit - Ko3 - Ta1

hseare2

six - seven - eight - nine - ten

200
3000
40000
500000
6000000
65000
65000
650000
wpf0uf
3 yHk 1 yHk
3 yHk 2 yHk
2 a,muf
1 cGuf
3 ykvif;
1 yGJ
2 cef;

Hna1 ya2

two hundred

Thone3 htoun2

three thousand

Lay3 thoun3

40,000

Nga3 thain3

500,000

Thain3 Chout-hseare2

6,000,000

Chout Thoun3 Nga3 Htoun2

6 * (10000) + 5 thousand

Chout Thoun3 Khweare3

6 *( 10000) + half of ( 10000)

Chout Thain3 Khweare3

6 * (100,000) + half of ( 100,000)

ta1 wet

half

thone3 pone2 ta1 pone2

one third

thone3 pone2 hna1 pone2

two third

hna1 yout

2 persons

ta1 khwet

1 glass

thone3 pa1-lin3

3 bottles (of beer, etc.)

ta1 pweare3

1 order (of fried noddle, etc.)

hna1 khan3

2 rooms

Time expressions

'Dae h
reufjzef
eHeuf (reuf)
ae v
h ,f
aehv,f12 em&D
nae
n
6 em&D
8 em&DcGJ
nae=u&if
nae=u&ifvmcJ yh g ?
nae=u&ifvmac:yg ?
nae 5em&Davmufvmyg?
9em&D rwdkicf ifvmyg?
8em&D rxd;k cifvmyg?
& em&Dxu
G fcsiw
f ,f ?
3 em&D oGm;csiw
f ,f ?

de2 nay1

today

ma1-net-pfyan2

tomorrow

ma1-net

morning

nay1-leare2

afternoon

nay1-leare2 hseare1 hna1 na2 yi2

noon

nya1-nay2

evening

nya1

night

chout na2 yi2

six o'clock

shit na2 yi2 khweare3

half past eight

nya1-nay2 kja1 yin2

when the evening comes

nya1-nay2 kja1 yin2 la2 kheare1 ba2

Please come (drop by) in the evening.

nya1-nay2 kja1-yin2 la2 khau2 ba2

Please pick me up in the evening.

nya1-nay2 nga3 na2-yi2 lout la2 ba2.

Please come around 5 in the evening.

ko3 na2-yi2 ma1-tine2-khin2 la2 ba2

Please come before 9 o' clock.

shit na2-yi2 ma1-hto3-khin2 la2 ba2

Please come before clock strikes eight.

Khoon2-na1 na2-yi2 htwet chin2 deare2

I want to depart at 7 o'clock.

thone3 na2-yi2 thwa3 chin2 deare2

I want to go at 3 o'clock.

Cities, places, and destinations

This will help you to figure out which long-distance highway bus or other transport to take.

&efukef
yk*H
anmifOD;
rEWav;
tif;0

Yan2 Gome2

Yangon

Ba1 Gun2 (spelled as Pu1 Gun2)

Bagan

Nyoun2 U3

Nyaung U

Mun3 Da1 Lay3

Mandalay

In3 Wa1

Inwa (Ava)

rif;uGe;f
tr&yl&
ppfudki;f
yckuLU
rH&k Gm
jyifO;D vGif
vm;&dSkK;
rlq,f
a&$vD
[J[;dk
tif;av;uef
uavm
yif;w,
awmif=uD;
oxHk
usKd ufxD;&dk;
usKd uQrD
armfvjrdKif
bm;tH
aumhaomif;
yJcl;
ajrmufO;D
aiGaqmif
acsmif;om
iyvD

Min3 Goon3

Mingun

A-ma1-Ra1 Pu2 Ra1

Amarapura

Za1 Gine3 (spelled as Sit Kine3)

Sagaing

Pa1 Khoat Ku2

Pakkoku

Mone2 Ywa2

Mone Ywa

Pyin2 U3 Lwin2

Pyin Oo Lwin

La3 Sho3

Lashio

Mu2 Hseare2

Muse

Shway2 Li2

Shwe Li

Heare3 Ho3

Heho

In3 Lay3 kun2

Inle Lake

Ka1 Lau3

Kalaw

Pin3 Da1 Ya1

Pindaya

Toun2 Ji3

Taunggyi

Tha1 Htone2

Thahton

Kjite Hti3 Yo3

Kyaikhtiyo

Kjite Kha1 Mi2

Kyaik Khami

Mau2 La1 Myine2

Mawlamyine

Pfa1 Un2 ( spelled as Ba3 Un2)

Hpa-an

Kau1 Thoun3

Kawthaung

Ba1 go3 ( spelled as Peare3 Khu3)

Bago

Myout U3

Mrauk U

Ngway2 Hsoun2

Ngwe Saung

Choun3 Tha2

Chaung Tha

Nga1 Pa1 Li2

Ngapali

Desire to do something

a&aomufcsiw
f ,f ?
xrif;pg;csiw
f ,f ?
qif;csiw
f ,f ?
tdro
f moGm;csiw
f ,f ?
zkef;ac:csiw
f ,f ?
vufrw
S f0,fcsiw
f ,f ?
pufbD;iSm;csiw
f ,f ?
0if=unfhcsiw
f ,f ?
'gvcdk sifw,f ?
=unfch sifao;w,f ?
em;csiw
f ,f ?
armjyD ?
jyefcsijf yD ?
awmfjyD ?
em;csijf yD ?
tdyfcsijf yD ?
roGm;csifawmhb;l ?
rpg;csiaf wmhbl; ?

yay2 thout chin2 deare2

I want to drink water.

hta1-min3 sa3 chin2 deare2

I want to eat (rice).

hsin3 chin2 deare2

I want to get down (from the vehicle).

ain2-tha2 thwa3 chin2 deare2

I want to go to the toilet.

pfone3 khau2 chin2 deare2

I want to make a phone call.

let-hmut weare2 chin2 deare2

I want to buy a ticket.

set-bane3 hnga3 chin2 deare2

I want to rent a bicycle.

win2-kji1 chin2 deare2

I want to go inside and take a look.

da2 lo2-chin2 deare2

I want this one.

kji1 chin2 thay3 deare2

I still want to take a look.

na3 chin2 deare2

I want to rest.

mau3 byi2

I am tired (and enough already).

pyan2 chin2 byi2

I want to go back (already).

tau2 byi2

I have had enough.

na3 chin2 byi2

I am tired and want to rest already.

Ate chin2 byi2

I want to go to sleep.

ma1 thwa3 chin2 dau1 bu3

I no longer want to go.

ma1 sa3 chin2 dau1 bu3

I no longer want to eat.

Asking Questions

bmvJ ?
bmjzpfvdk hvJ ?
bmvkyf&rvJ ?
bmqufvyk &f rvJ ?
b,f[mvJ ?
b,folvJ ?
b,frmS vJ ?
b,fem;rSmvJ ?
&
b,frmS 0,f&rvJ ?
b,fomG ;&rvJ ?
b,fawmh&rvJ ?
b,fawmhvJ ?
b,fawmhvmrvJ ?
b,fawmhxu
G frvJ ?
b,fawmhomG ;rvJ ?
b,fawmhomG ;=urvJ ?
b,favmufvJ ?
b,fvdkvJ ?
b,fvdkomG ;&rvJ ?
b,fvdkvyk f&rvJ ?
b,fvdkvyk f=urvJ ?

ba2 leare3

What? What's the matter?

ba2 pfyit lo1 leare3

What reason? Why?

ba2 loat yah1 ma1 leare3

What should I do? (asking procedures).

ba2 hset loat yah1 ma1 leare3

What's the next step ( to continue )?

beare2 ha2 leare3

Which one?

beare2 thu2 leare3

Which person? Who?

beare2 hma2 leare3

Where?

beare2 na3 hma2 leare3

Nearby where?

yah1

to obtain; can be done; available; ready

beare2 hma2 weare2 yah1 ma1 leare3

Where can I buy (ticket, etc.)?

beare2 thwa3 yah1 ma1 leare3

Where to go (and do something)?

beare2 dau1 yah1 ma1 leare3

When can I get (something)?

beare2 dau1 leare3

When will it be?

beare2 dau1 la2 ma1 leare3

When will (you or anything) come?

beare2 dau1 htwet ma1 leare3

When will ( you, bus, etc.) depart?

beare2 dau1 thwa3 ma1 leare3

When will you (one person) go?

beare2 dau1 thwa3 ja1 ma1 leare3

When will we or you (plural) go?

beare2 lout leare3

How much?

beare2 lo2 leare3

How (is the situation)?

beare2 lo2 thwa1 yah1 ma1 leare3

How to go there?

beare2 lo2 loat yah1 ma1 leare3

How to do (something)?

beare2 lo2 loat ja1 ma1 leare3

How now? What should we do now?

b,feSa,mufvJ ?
b,feSyv
k if;rSmrvJ ?
b,feScef;,lrvJ ?

beare2 hna1 yout leare3

How many persons?

beare2 hna1 pa1-lin3 hma2 ma1 leare3

How many bottles (should we) order?

beare2 hna1 khan3 yu2 ma1 leare3

How many rooms (will you) take ?

Greetings, Basic Conversation, and saying Good-bye

awG &h wm0rf;omygw,f ?

emrnfb,fvdkac:vJ ?
bmvlrsKdk ; vJ ?
b,frmS aevJ ?
b,frmS wnf;vJ ?
aeaumif;vm; ?
aeaumif;=uvm; ?
aus;Zl;wifygw,f ?
tm;emvdu
k w
f m?
odyfaumif;wmyJ ?
odyv
f SwmyJ ?
vmyg OD; ?
pm;yg OD; ?
pm;aumif;&Jv
h m; ?
azsm&f nfaomufyg OD; ?

tway1 yah1 ta2 wun3 tha2 ba2 deare2

Glad to meet you!

nun2-meare2 beare2-lo2 khau2 leare3 What's your name? (name+how+call)

ba2 lu2-myo3 leare3

What ethnic race (nationality) are you?

beare2 hma2 nay2 leare3

Where do you live?

beare2 hma2 teare3 leare3

Where do you stay?

nay2 koun3 la3

How are you?

nay koun3 ja1 la3

How are you (plural) ?

Kjay3 zu3 tin2 ba2 deare2

Thank you!

ah3 na2 lite ta2

I am so grateful for help and hospitality.

thate koun3 ta1 beare3

It is (was) very good!

thate hla1 ta2 beare3

Very pretty!

la2 ba2 ome3 (spelled as "u3".)

Please come!

sa3 ba2 ome3

Please eat! Won't you have some?

sa3 koun3 yeare1 la3

How's the food? Delicious?

pfyau2-yay2 thout ba2 ome3

Please have (drink) some beverages.

&dS
toufb,favmuf&SdjyDvJ ?
tdraf xmif&SdjyDvm; ?
bmtvkyf vkyo
f vJ ?
b,frmS tvkyfvyk f ovJ ?
tqifajy =u &J hvm; ?
taz tar aum &dSao;vm; ?
pdwrf aumif;yg bl; ?
uav; aum&dSjyDvm; ?
bm 0goemygvJ ?
oDcsif;qdkwwfvm; ?

shi1

to be present; to have; count up to

a-thet beare2 lout shi1 byi2 leare

How old are you? ( age + how much )

ain2-htoun2 shi1 byi2 la3

Are you married? (family life + have +?)

ba2 a-loat loat tha1 leare3

What do you do for living. (job)

beare2-hma2 a-loat loat tha1 leare3

Where do you work?

a-hsin2 pyay2 ja1 yeare1 la3

Is everything going well for you?

a-pfay2 a-may2 gau3 shi1 thay3 la3

Father and mother still living?

sate ma1 koun3 ba2 bu3

Sorry to hear that. (feeling + bad )

kha1-lay3 gau3 shi1 byi2 la3

Do you have kids already? (as well?)

ba2 wa2-tha1-na2 pa2 leare3

Do you have hobbies? What are they?

tha1-chin3 hso2 tut la3?

Do you know how to sing? Can you

sing songs?

'gq&dk if aumif;wmaygh ?
=um;zl;ovdkyJ ?
edkiif Hjcm; a&mufzl;vm; ?
[kwfygh / [kwyf gh ?
a=omf / [kwu
f Jh ?
a=omf / [kwv
f m;?
[kww
f maygh ?
oGm;ygO;D r,f ?
oGm;awmhr,f ?
oGm;r,f ?
cGijfh yKyg OD; aemf ?
aemufjyefawG =h uao;wmaygh ?

da2-hso2-yin2 koun3 ta2 pau1

Then, that's great!

kja3-pfu3 tha1-lo2 beare3

Seems like I have heard of it before.

nine2-ngan2-ja3 yout-pfu3 la3

Have you been to abroad before?

hote-pa1, hote-pa1

absolutely!

au2, hote-keare1

Oh! .. OK!

au2, hote la3

Oh, is that right?

hote da2 pau1

I see. I agree with you. (correct / yes )

thwa3 ba2 ome3 meare2

Well, I've got to go.

thwa3 dau1 meare2

It's time for me to go.

thwa3 meare2

good-bye!

khwin1-pyu1 ba2 ome3 nau2

Please let me be excused now.

nout pyan2 tway1 ja1 thay3 da2 pau1

See you again next time!

Tone Reference Table

u
um
um;
ud
uD
uD;
udk h
udk
udk;
uk
ul
ul;
uef h
uef
uef;
aumh
aumf
aum
auh
au
au;
uif h

ka1

as in "cart" with silent "rt".

ka2

as in "cartoon"

ka3

as in "America"

ki1 (or) ke1

as in "keep" with silent "p"

ki2 (or) ke2

as in "kilometer"

ki3 (or) ke3

as in "key"

ko1

as in "colt" with silent "lt"

ko2

as in the first "co" of "cocoa"

ko3

as in the last "co" of "cocoa"

ku1

as in "uncouth" with silent "th"

ku2

as in "Kuwait"

ku3

as in "coup" or "cool" with silent "l

kun1 (or) kan1

as in British "Can't" with silent "t"

kun2 (or) kan2

as in "Cambodia" with silent "m"

kun3 (or) kan3

as in "cunning"

kau1

as in "caustic"

kau2

as in "collect"

kau3

as in "caution"

kay1

as in "cave" with silent "ve"

kay2

as in "canine", i.e, "K9"

kay3

as in "decay"

kin1

as in "kink" with silent "k"

uif
uif;
uJ h / u,f h
u,f
uJ
udef h / udrf h
udef / udrf
ude;f / udfr;f
udkif h
udkif
udkif;
ukef h
ukef
uke;f
uGef h
uGef
uGef; / uGrf;
aumif h
aumif
aumif;
udwf / udyf / udpP
uuf
uGwf / uGyf
aumuf
udkuf
uwf / uyf

kin2

as in "pumpkin"

kin3

as in "kinship"

keare1

as in "caffeine" with silent "f"

keare2

as in "California"

keare3

as in "care"

kain1

as in "against" with silent "st"

kain2

as in "granary" without "r" in between

kain3

as in " cane"

kine1

as in "kind" with silent "d"

kine2

as in "kinetic"

kine3

"kine" that rhymes with "pine"

kome1 / kone1

as in "comb" with silent "mb"

kome2 / kone2

as in "Yangon"

kome3 / kone3

as in "cone"

koon1

"coont" that rhymes with "couldn't"

koon2

"koon" that rhymes with "mongoose"

koon3

as in "cocoon"

koun1

as in "count" with silent "t"

koun2

as in "counter-strike"

koun3

as in "counselling"

kate

as in "cake" with silent "ke"

kat / ket

as in "cat" with silent "t"

koot

as in "cook" with silent "k"

kout

as in "couch" with silent "ch"

kite

as in "kite" with silent "t"

kut / kup

as in "cup" with silent "p"

ukwf / ukyf
upf

koat

as in "coat" with silent "t"

Kit

as in "kit" with silent "t"

Revision History

2013-11-27 Original Release

2013-12-01 Expanded, color coding improved, and some corrections made.

2013-12-14 Minor improvements made.

2014-03-28 "ya1" is modified to "yah1" to make it less ambiguous.

2014-05-12 corrected an English typo.

2014-12-08 Updated the standardized romanization without change in pronunciation.

2015-01-01 Minor improvement plus mobile phone readable QR ccode with website URL
added.

2015-04-02 Spelling variation for colloquial word: "how many" is changed from __
to __ to standardize with the usage by the Myanmar Language
Commission.

2015-06-17 Expanded and re-designed with a note that MP3 Audio files are now available in
the website.

Burmese 1,2,3 Tone System is Developed by Naing Tinnyuntpu.

copyright 2014-2015, Naing Tinnyuntpu & Asia Pearl Travels.
Website: http://www.asiapearltravels.com/language/lesson28.php
email: naing.tin@gmail.com
Burmese Script used in the Free Online Colloquial Burmese Lessons is consistent with ( and checked against)
the Spelling Reference Book and Burmese to Burmese Dictionary published by the Ministry of Education in
Naypyitaw, Myanmar.

Zero Kyat