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Burmese Phrasebook for the Tourists 📖

So far, we have covered a lot of grounds on useful basic Burmese vocabularies, words, and phrases. Although new lessons are added as time goes by, I will keep the Myanmar conversational phrases as simple as possible, so that you can jump in at any lesson without difficulties.

In this lesson, I am going to focus on essential travel phrases for the tourists. Some of the words and phrases are already covered in the previous lessons, so if you have been following me, this will be like a review. For the tourists who discover this page through the Internet search, this lesson will be a useful information put together in one page.

Welcome to Yangon

Calling a taxi or a doctor 📞

As a traveler, you definitely need a transport. Although some travel agencies provide guided tours inclusive of transport, some tourists prefer to make adventures on their own. If you are one of such individuals, you can go to the front desk in your hotel and ask:

tet-si2 — taxi

khau2 — call

pay3 — give

ba2 — soft polite tone

tet-si2 khau2 pay3 ba2Can you call a taxi for me, please?

hsa1-ya2-woon2 — doctor

khau2 — call

pay3 — give

ba2 — soft polite tone

You can use the same sentence construction with "doctor" in place of "taxi".

hsa1-ya2-woon2 khau2 pay3 ba2Can you call a doctor for me, please?

Can you do this for me, please? 🚕

So, the general pattern of making such requests is:

xxxx pay3 ba2 where,

xxxx is the action word (verb).

pay3 means to give. In Myanmar grammar, when this word is used as a suffix word after an another verb, it becomes a particle meaning to do something for someone, or on the behalf of someone.

ba2 is a polite ending word which softens the tone, as opposed to a command.

If the request is the first phrase as you approach someone for help, and not in the middle of the conversation, include "for me", or "to me" in the beginning of the phrase.

kja1-nau1 — me (male term)

go2 — roughly means "to" or "for"

xxxx — do something

pay3 ba2 — polite ending word.

kja1-nau1 go2 xxxx pay3 ba2 - Please do xxxx for me (male).

kja1-ma1 go2 xxxx pay3 ba2 - Please do xxxx for me (female).

I have covered a list of verbs that you can use in lesson7. For example, you can say,

a-woot shau2 pay3 ba2Can you wash clothes for me, please?

dau2-la2 leare3 pay3 ba2Can you exchange dollar (into kyat) for me, please?

Can you take me to xxxx ? ⛵

The general pattern of making this type of request is:

xxxx po1 pay3 ba2

lay2-yin2-byan2 gwin3 — airport (airplane + field) [noun]

po1 — send [verb]

pay3 — give [verb]

ba2 — soft polite tone [particle]

lay2-yin2-byan2 gwin3 po1 pay3 ba2Can you take me to the airport, please?

A shorter word for airport is lay2 zate. You will find this word on maps and road signs. The table below is a list of some useful vocabularies that you can substitute in place of the airport.

Independence Park Yangon

Vocabulary List of places (Sortable)
AUDIO ↑↓ ENGLISH ↑↓
bu2-da2 yone2 train station
thin3-bau3 zate river jetty; harbor; quay
hlay2 zate jetty for motorized boats
hsay3 gun3 clinic
hsay3 yone2 hospital
bun2 bank
yeare3 sa1-khan3 police station
xxxx yone3 xxxx office
thun2 yone3 embassy
xxxx hsine2 xxxx shop
sa3-thout hsine2 restaurant
in2-ta2-net hsine2 Internet Cafe
sa2-oat hsine2 bookshop
a-hmut-ta1-ya1 pyit-si3 youn3 zine2 souvenir shop
za1-bin2 hnyut hsine2 hair dresser
xxxx ho2-teare2 xxxx Hotel
teare3-kho2 gun3 Guest House
yay2-ku3 gun2 swimming pool
gout kwin3 Golf Course
kun3 jay2 beach
kun3 na3 waterfront
xxxx pan3-jan2 xxxx Garden/Park
xxxx lun3 xxxx Road
xxxx pfa1-ya3 xxxx Pagoda
xxxx zay3 xxxx Market
a-youn3 pya1 gun3 showroom

Shopping and eating out 🍻

beare2 lout leare3How much? (how much + ending question word)

da2 beare2 lout leare3How much is this? (this + how much + ending question word)

beare2 lout kja1 ma1-leare3How much will it cost? (how much + cost + will + ending question word)

Please refer to lesson 12 for numbers.

Use the phrase "xxxx ya1 ma1-la3 to ask if something is available or if it is OK to get something done. (Please see lesson 15 for more on ordering food and drinks including restaurant menus.)

ya1 - is the verb "to get" or "to obtain" in Burmese grammar, but it can also be roughly translated as an adjective "available". For example

be2-ya2 ya1 ma1-la3 - Can I get beer? roughly means: "Is beer available here?"

If someone tries to sell you something that you don't want, say:

ma1-weare2 thay3 bu3Not buying this time. (negative + buy + still not + negative ending)

How to make a bargain in Burmese? 🉐

There are still many places in Myanmar where you can make a bargain, like souvenir sellers and roadside used books vendors. While there are a good many honest merchants making their decent living, some cannot resist the temptation to hike up the price a little when they see foreigners with lots of cash. What can you do? The small amount of extra money that they ask may mean nothing to you, but it can feed a poor family for a day in this country — just a small input for your consideration. However, if you're certain that the greed is ridiculously high, you can then use the phrase

shau1 ba2 ome3Please decrease or reduce a little.

The song below uses this phrase in a different context where this guy is begging provocatively dressed girls to be less sexy to save him from heart attacks. IMPORTANT NOTE: It's optional to sing exactly like this when you make a bargain.

How to bargain in Burmese

There are still many places in Myanmar where you can make a bargain, like souvenir sellers and roadside used books vendors. While there are a good many honest merchants making their decent living, some cannot resist the temptation to hike up the price a little when they see foreigners with lots of cash. What can you do? The small amount of extra money that they ask may mean nothing to you, but it can feed a poor family for a day in this country — just a small input for your consideration. However, if you're certain that the greed is ridiculously high, you can then use the phrase လျှော့ပါဦး | shau1 ba2 ome3 — Please decrease or reduce a little. The song below used this phrase in a different context where this guy is begging provocatively dressed girls to be less sexy to save him from heart attacks. IMPORTANT NOTE: It's optional to sing exactly like this when you make a bargain. — performed by Dယံ | D Yan (15 seconds)

Posted by Naing Tinnyuntpu on Friday, May 27, 2016
Dယံ | D Yan during Thingyan Water Festival

Can I take photo? 📷

Thingyan Myanmar Water Festival

dut-pone2 — photo

yite — strike (take photo)

lo1 — take the course of action

ya1 — get it done

ma1 — will be

la3 — ending question word

dut-pone2 yite lo1 ya1 ma1-la3Can I take photo?

Looking for a washroom or a toilet 🚹 🚺

de2 hma2 — here (this place + at)

ain2-dtha2 — toilet

shi1 — exist

la3 — ending question word

de2 hma2 ain2-dtha2 shi1 la3Is there a toilet here?

ain2-dtha2 — toilet

beare2 hma2 — where (where + at)

shi1 — exist

leare3 — ending question word for "what", "why", "which", "where", "when", "how", "how many", "how much".

ain2-dtha2 beare2-hma2 shi1 leare3Where is the toilet (or) where can I find the toilet?

( Refer to lesson 5 for location and direction words.)

When will it be? ⌚

beare2-dau1 yout ma1-leare3When will it or he or she arrive? (when + arrive + will + ?)

beare2-dau1 la2 ma1-leare3When will you come? (when + come + will + ?)

beare2-dau1 thwa3 ma1-leare3When will you go? (when + go + will + ?)

beare2-dau1 thwa3 ja1 ma1-leare3When will we go? (when + go + plural + will + ?)

Take note that there is no "you" "we" or "it" stated explicitly in the phrases. For the answers to such questions regarding time, please refer to time expressions in lesson 13.

Simple questions using "what", "which", "where", "who", "why", "how", and "how many" ❔ ❔ ❔

da2 ba2 leare3What is this? (this + what)

beare2 ha2 leare3Which one? (which + object + ?)

beare2 hma2 leare3Where is it? (where + at + ?)

beare2 dthu2 leare3Who? (which + person + ?)

thu2 beare3That's him! (he + exactly!)

ba2 pfyit lo1 leare3Why?, Why didn't you?, etc.. (what + happen + because + ?)

beare2-lo2 leare3How did it go? How is it going? (how + ?)

da2 beare2-lo2 khau2 leare3What do you call this in Burmese? (this + how + call + ?)

beare2 hna1-yout leare3how many persons?

How to say "sorry" in Burmese

Some Burmese authors attempt to translate "sorry" word from English novels as

wun3-neare3 ba2 deare2 - (be sorry + polite + ending word)

When Burmese people hear this phrase, it gets the impression that the speaker is a Westerner. The phrase does not catch on to become a common usage.

The more colloquial phrase for "sorry" as in "I'm sorry to hear that" is

sate ma1-koun3 ba2 bu3 - (mind or spirit + not + good + polite + negative ending word)

When someone accidentally touches an another person, especially to an elder person, Burmese people will say,

ga1-dau1 ... ga1-dau1 - (show of respect and/or gratitude). This word is equivalent to "sorry".

Another usage of "sorry" in English is when you did not hear or understand what the other person said, which is like saying "excuse me, can you say that again?"

beare2-lo2 leare3how? - (how + ?)

pyan2 pyau3 ba2 ome3Can you say that again? - (prefix: "repeat" + speak + polite + ending word)

Excuse me!

If someone is in the way in the crowded place and you don't want to be rude by pushing your way through or wait for the person to get out of the way, you can say this:

neare3-neare3 — a little

lout — just about; not exact

neare3-neare3 lout — Excuse me! Excuse me, please!

This phrase requesting to move a little is often heard on the crowded public buses during the rush hours as people try to shove their way to the exit door.

Meeting, greetings, saying thank you and good-bye

I have already covered basic greetings, meeting, questions and answers in previous lessons, so I will just summarize them here without giving detailed explanations. For details on basic questions and answers, please refer to lesson 2.

nay2-koun3 la3How are you?

tway1 — meet (verb)

ya1 da2 — as for being able to (particle)

wun3-tha2 — be glad(verb) equivalent to happy (adjective in English)

ba2 deare2 — polite affirmative ending words. (particle + postpositional marker)

tway1 ya1 da2 wun3-tha2 ba2 deare2Nice to meet you!

nun2-meare2 beare2-lo2 khau2 leare3What's your name? - (name + how + call + ?)

in3-ga1-late — English

za1-ga3 — spoken language

pyau3 — speak, tell, say

tut — suffix particle: know how to

dtha1-la3 — ?

in3-ga1-late za1-ga3 pyau3 tut dtha1-la3Can you speak English?

neare3 neare3 — a little

pyau3 — speak, tell, say

tut — suffix particle: know how to

deare2 — affirmation.

neare3 neare3 pyau3 tut deare2Yes, I can speak a little.

kjay3-zu3 — a good deed done on an another person.

tin2 — to explain the fact as in tin2 pya1

ba2 deare2 — polite ending word with emphasis on tin2.

kjay3-zu3 tin2 ba2 deare2Thank you!

ah3-na2 za1-ya2 ji3You are so kind and hospitable!

What does ah3-na2 mean? See lesson 20 for explanation.

ya1 ba2 deare2No problem! (can be done + polite + ending word) equivalent to "You're welcome!"

thwa3 ba2 ome3-meare2Good-bye! (go + polite + action to be taken first + ending word indicating future: "will")

nout pyan2 tway1 ja1 meare2See you again! (next time + repeat + see + plural + ending word indicating future: "will")

Color Codes: nouns, pronouns, verbs, adverbs, adjectives, conjunctions, particles, postpositional markers, interjections.

Read this page with Myanmar Script

Taxi in Myanmar

Survival Phrasebook with Burmese Script

The PDF file contains useful survival phrases that you can use when you are in the rural areas away from English speakers. When all other communications fail, just point out the phrase in Burmese script directly from your smartphone that says things like, "take me to the nearest hotel".

Survival Phrase Book with Burmese Script

Revision: L
Revised Date: 2019-10-07
File Size: 357 KB
Number of Pages: 37

Although the phrases are not explained in details, it is designed to help you to see the sentence patterns, and priority is placed in the emergency situations and words such as shouting, tha1 kho3...tha1 kho3 ( thief!...thief!) or mi3... mi3 (fire!...fire!).

Audio files for Survival Phrasebook are zipped for easy download and offline study. Zipped files include more than 130 MP3 Audio files, a text file with file names in English Romanization, Burmese script, and English translation. Also included is a CSV file and an Excel file for easy sorting.

Zipped Audio Files

File: lesson28-summary.zip
Date: 2017-03-05
File Size: 5 MB

Do you want to learn to read and pronounce Burmese Script in a short time? In lesson 33, you can download Myanmar Script Learning Guide designed for the tourists.

CLICK (OR TOUCH) TABLE HEADER COLUMNS TO SORT BY ASCENDING OR DESCENDING ORDER.

Emergency Situations and making requests 📞 🏥
AUDIO ↑↓ ENGLISH ↑↓
keare2 ja1 ba2 Help! Help!
mi3 ... mi3 Fire! Fire!
tha1-kho3...tha1-kho3 thief! thief!
da1-mya1... da1-mya1 Robbery! Robbery!
lun3 pya1 pay3 ba2 Help me show the way
ku2-nyi2 pay3 ba2 ome3 Please help me!
hsay3-gun3 po1 pay3 ba2 Please take me to the clinic
hsay3-yone2 po1 pay3 ba2 Please take me to the hospital
bu2-da2-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 Take me to the restaurant
teare3-kho2-gun3 po1 pay3 ba2 Take me to the guest house
a-ni3-zone3 hsay3-gun3 po1 pay3 ba2 Take me to the nearest clinic
a-ni3-zone3 ho2-teare2 po1 pay3 ba2 Take me to the nearest hotel
ain2-dtha2 thwa3 chin2 deare2 I want to go to the toilet
ain2-dtha2 shi1 la3 Is there a toilet
ain2-dtha2 beare2-hma2 shi1 leare3 Where is the toilet?
a-yay3-bau2 pfone3 khau2 pay3 ba2 Please call emergency
hsa1-ya2-woon2 khau2 pay3 ba2 Please call a doctor
yeare3 khau2 pay3 ba2 Please call police
a-hnga3-yin2 khau2 pay3 ba2 Please call a rental vehicle
tet-si2 khau2 pay3 ba2 Please call taxi
lu2 khau2 pay3 ba2 Please call someone
myin3-hleare3 khau2 pay3 ba2 Please call horse-driven carriage
set-hlay2 khau2 pay3 ba2 Please call 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 Please call me a guide
lun3-pya1 ta1-yout hteare1 pay3 ba2 Please include a guide
hna1-yet-sa2 yate-kha2 hteare1 pay3 ba2 Please pack supplies for two days
dau2-la2 leare3 pay3 ba2 Please exchange dollar for me
a-woot shau2 pay3 ba2 Can you wash clothes for me?
a-khan3 sha2 pay3 ba2 Can you find a room for me?
yin2-moun3 sha2 pay3 ba2 Help me find a driver
eare1-da2 theare2 pay3 ba2 Plese help me carry that
ho2 ha2 leare3 theare2 pay3 ba2 Please help me carry that also
de2 ha2 ba2 theare2 pay3 ome3 Please help me carry this, too
Numbers
AUDIO ↑↓ ENGLISH ↑↓
set-bain3 hna1-si3 hnga3 meare2 (We) will rent two bicycles
hseare1-chout dau2-la2 kja1 meare2 It will cost 16 dollars
kjet-kin2 ta1-goun2 hma2 lite Go ahead and order a barbecue chicken
Time Expressions
AUDIO ↑↓ ENGLISH ↑↓
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
See Lesson 13 for time expressions with audio
Cities, Places & Destinations
AUDIO ↑↓ ENGLISH ↑↓
mun3-da1-lay3 thwa3 chin2 lo1 I'd like to go to Mandalay.
mun3-da1-lay3 thwa3 deare1 ka3 shi1 la3 Are there buses that go to Mandalay?
nay1-dine3 htwet la3 Do they leave everyday?
de2-nay1 htwet la3 Is there one that leaves today?
beare2 a-chain2 htwet leare3 What time does it leave?
mun3-da1-lay3 go2 beare2 a-chain2 yout leare3 What time does it arrive Mandalay?
ka3 let-hmut de2 hma2 youn3 la3 Are bus tickets sold here?
ya1-hta3 let-hmut beare2 hma2 weare2 ya1 ma1-leare3 Where can I buy train tickets?
Desire to do something (Sortable)
AUDIO ↑↓ ENGLISH ↑↓
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-dtha2 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. (to be 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
AUDIO ↑↓ ENGLISH ↑↓
ba2 leare3 What? What's the matter?
ba2 pfyit lo1 leare3 What reason? Why?
ba2 loat ya1 ma1-leare3 What should I do? (asking procedures)
ba2 hset loat ya1 ma1-leare3 What's the next step ( to proceed )?
beare2 ha2 leare3 Which one?
beare2 dthu2 leare3 Which person? Who? (which + he + ?)
beare2 hma2 leare3 Where? (where + at + ?)
beare2 na3 hma2 leare3 Nearby where? (nearby where + at ?)
beare2 hma2 weare2 ya1 ma1-leare3 Where can I buy (ticket, etc.)?
beare2 thwa3 ya1 ma1-leare3 Where to go (and do something)?
beare2 dau1 ya1 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 ya1 ma1-leare3 How to go there?
beare2 lo2 loat ya1 ma1-leare3 How to do (something)?
beare2 lo2 loat ja1 ma1-leare3 How now? What should we do now?
beare2 hna1-yout leare3 How many people?
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
AUDIO ↑↓ ENGLISH ↑↓
tway1 ya1 da2 wun3-tha2 ba2 deare2 Glad to meet you! (be happy)
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? (where + at + live + ?)
beare2 hma2 teare3 leare3 Where do you stay? (where + at + stay + ?)
nay2 koun3 la3 How are you?
nay2 koun3 ja1 la3 How are you (plural)?
kjay3-zu3 tin2 ba2 deare2 Thank you!
ah3-na2 lite ta2 I am so grateful for your help and hospitality
thate koun3 da2 beare3 It is (was) very good!
thate hla1 da2 beare3 Very pretty!
la2 ba2 ome3 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
a-thet beare2 lout shi1 byi2 leare3 How old are you? (age + how much+ have + already +?)
ain2-doun2 shi1 byi2 la3 Are you married? (family life + have + already +?)
ba2 a-loat loat dtha1-leare3 What do you do for living? (what + job + do)
beare2-hma2 a-loat loat dtha1=leare3 Where do you work? (where + at + job + do)
a-hsin2 pyay2 ja1 yeare1 la3 Is everything going well for you?
a-pfay2 a-may2 gau3 shi1 thay3 la3 How are your parents? (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-dtha1-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?
da2 hso2-yin2 koun3 da2 bau1 Then, that's great!
kja3 bu3 dtha1-lo2 beare3 Seems like I have heard of it before.
nine2-ngan2-ja3 yout bu3 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 bau1 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 bau1 See you again next time!