â Burmese lessons
đ˛đ˛
Lesson 3 of 10
Yes, no and the essentials in Burmese
The small words that carry half of every conversation, and the ones that rescue it. Play the ten Burmese words against the clock, with a note on how locals really use each one after every answer. All ten are written out below.
All 10 Burmese phrases in this lesson
- ááŻááşáá˛áˇhoke-KEH
- Yes
- áááŻááşáá°á¸ma-HOKE-boo
- No
- áĄááŻááąo-KAY
- Okay
- ááŹá¸ááááşáá°á¸na ma-LEH-boo
- I don't understand
- áĄááşášáááááşááᯠááźáąáŹáááşááŹá¸in-ga-LAIK-lo pyaw-TAT-la
- Do you speak English?
- áááşááźáąáŹááąá¸ááŤhtat pyaw-PAY-ba
- Can you repeat that?
- ááźááşá¸ááźááşá¸ ááźáąáŹááąá¸ááŤphyay-PHYAY pyaw-PAY-ba
- Slowly, please
- á፠ááŹáá˛da BA-leh
- What is this?
- ...áááŻáááşlo-DEH
- I need...
- áá°ááŽááąá¸áááŻááşáááŹá¸ku-nyi pay-NAING-ma-la
- Can you help me?
The polite yes, also used to show you are listening.
Literally "it is not". To refuse an offer, "ááááŻáá°á¸" (ma-LO-boo), I don't need it.
Borrowed and used everywhere. "ááááş" (ya-DEH), it's fine, is the Burmese version.
Younger people in Yangon and tourist areas often do.
Literally "please say it again for me".
Literally "please speak slowly slowly".
Point at any tea shop snack and ask.
"áááŹáááş áááŻáááş" (sa-ya-WUN lo-DEH), I need a doctor.
Polite and soft. People are quick to help.