Myanmar
/ˌmjɑːnˈmɑːr/noun
The official English name of the Southeast Asian country also commonly known historically as Burma.
Did you know?Myanmar is the formal literary name, while Bamar is the colloquial form; both are traditionally understood as variants of the same Burmese ethnonym, though its ultimate origin remains uncertain.
Etymological Timeline
12th Century
Old Burmese
myanma
“An early recorded form of the name associated with the Burmese people and their kingdom.”
15th–16th Century
Burmese
Mranma / Myanma
“Literary forms used in Burmese writing for the Burmese people and their realm.”
18th Century
Burmese
Bama
“Colloquial Burmese form corresponding to the literary Myanma.”
18th–20th Century
English
Burma
“An English rendering derived through European transcriptions of Bama.”
1989
English
Myanmar
“The official English name adopted by the State Law and Order Restoration Council, replacing Burma in official usage.”
Modern English
English
Myanmar
“The country’s official English name, while Burma remains widely used by some governments, organizations, and speakers.”