10 Burmese Words Every Tourist Should Learn Before Visiting Myanmar

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Planning a trip to Myanmar? Whether you're wandering through temple-studded plains in Bagan, the Eastern part of Myanmar, where the coldest weather of the country welcomes you or grabbing street snacks in Yangon, knowing a few local words can go a long way. Burmese people deeply appreciate it when travellers try to speak their language, even just a little.

Here are 10 simple Burmese words and phrases that can make your travels smoother, friendlier, and more immersive.

1. Mingalaba (မင်္ဂလာပါ) – Hello

Pronunciation: min-ga-la-ba

This is the most common greeting in Myanmar and can be used anytime, anywhere. Say it with a smile, and you’ll likely receive one in return.

2. Kyae zu tin par tae (ကျေးဇူးတင်ပါတယ်) – Thank you

Pronunciation: Kyae -zu- tin-ba-de

A slightly long one, but it’s worth remembering. Locals truly appreciate it when tourists say thank you in Burmese.

3. Dar Bar Lel ? (ဒါဘာလဲ) – What is it?

Pronunciation: Dah - Bar- Lel

Useful in markets, street food stalls, or anytime you’re curious. It shows genuine interest without being intrusive.

4. Shi lar? (ရှိလား) – Do you have...?

Pronunciation: shi-la

Handy for asking vendors if they have something. For example, “Water shi lar?” means “Do you have water?”

5. Hote (ဟုတ်) – Yes

Pronunciation: hoat

A simple way to say yes. It’s polite and respectful, especially when speaking to elders.

6. Hint imm (ဟင့်အင်း ) – No

Pronunciation: Hint Imm

The friendly way to say no — soft and general.

7. Bel lout le? (ဘယ်လောက်လဲ) – How much is it?

Pronunciation: beh-lout-le

Essential for shopping and bargaining at local markets.

8. Kaung Tel (ကောင်းတယ်) – Good

Pronunciation: Kaung Tel

When the food someone offers to you tastes good. You can nicely give them the feedback " Kaung Tel"

9. Taw Pe (တော်ပြီ ) – It’s enough / That’s okay

Pronunciation: Taw Pe

Used when someone is over-serving you food, or if you're politely turning something down.

10. Mite Tel (မိုက်တယ်) – It's cool

Pronunciation: mite - tel

When someone does something cool or something fantastic, you can use this, which sounds friendly.

Bonus Tip:

Burmese is a tonal language, so pronunciation matters, but don’t stress too much. Locals are incredibly forgiving and encouraging when they hear foreigners try.

If you want to go further, try learning to read a few Burmese letters too — it’s more fun than you’d think!