Burmese is the official language of Myanmar, but ethnic minorities all have their own dialects. Burmese is a tonal language, meaning that the same word changes meaning depending on its pronunciation. These nuances are particularly difficult for westerners to hear. The beautiful Burmese script is written from left to right without separating the words. A legacy of British colonization, the older generation of Burmese still speak English, as well as those who were fortunate to receive a quality education, otherwise you will need to learn a few words of the Burmese language in order to communicate when you travel to Myanmar.
| English | Burmese | | --- | --- | | Hello | Minglaba | | Goodbye | Thwa bi | | Thank you | Kyai zou tin ba de | | I don't understand | Na ma le bu | | How are you? | Neh kaun la? | | How much does this cost? | Ba lau le? | | Turn right | Beh-beq | | Turn left | Nya-beq | | Go straight | Teh-deh | | Sorry | Ngar taung pan par deh |
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