The Burmese kinship system is a fairly complex system used to define family in the Burmese language.[1] In the Burmese kinship system:[2]
Many of the kinship terms used in Burmese today are extant or derived from Old Burmese.[3] These include the terms used to reference siblings and in-laws.
The Burmese kinship system identifies and recognizes six generations of direct ancestors, excluding the ego:[4]
The Burmese kinship system identifies seven generations of direct descendants, excluding the ego:[4]
Kinship terms differ depending on the degree of formality, courtesy or intimacy. Also, there are regional differences in the terms used.
Burmese also possesses kin numeratives (in the form of suffixes):
The Burmese kinship system also recognizes various relationships between family members that are not found in English, including:[4]
| Relation | Term | Form of address | English equivalent | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Father | pha khin | a phay phay phay | Father | ||
| Mother | mi khin | a may may may | Mother | ||
| Elder brother (male ego) | naung | Brother | |||
| Elder brother (female ego) | ko | Brother | |||
| Younger brother (male ego) | nyi | Brother | |||
| Younger brother (female ego) | maung | Brother | |||
| Older sister | ma | Sister | |||
| Younger sister (male ego) | hna ma | Sister | |||
| Younger sister (female ego) | nyi ma | Sister | |||
| Husband | lin | Husband | Informal: (yaukkya). Formal: (khinbun). | ||
| Wife | maya | Wife | Informal: (meinma). Formal: (zani). | ||
| Son | tha | Son | |||
| Daughter | thami | Daughter |
| Immediate lineage | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Relation | Term | Form of address | English equivalent | Notes | |
| Parent's father | pho | Grandfather | |||
| Parent's mother | phwa | Grandmother | |||
| Father's elder brother | ba gyi | Uncle | |||
| Father's younger brother | ba lay | Uncle | The youngest uncle may be called (ba dway). | ||
| Father's elder sister | ayi gyi | Aunt | |||
| Father's younger sister | ayi lay | Aunt | The youngest aunt may be called (dway lay). | ||
| Mother's elder brother | u gyi | Uncle | (wayi) is now obsolete. | ||
| Mother's younger brother | u lay | Uncle | |||
| Mother's elder sister | daw gyi | Aunt | Also (kyidaw). | ||
| Mother's younger sister | daw lay | Aunt | The youngest aunt may be called (dway lay). | ||
| First cousin | maung hnama ta wun gwe | First cousin | Lit. "siblings one womb removed" | ||
| Nephews and nieces | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Relation | Term | Form of address | English equivalent | Notes | |
| Sibling's son | tu | Nephew | |||
| Sibling's daughter | tuma | Niece | |||
| In-laws | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Relation | Term | Form of address | English equivalent | Notes | |
| Brother's wife (female ego) Husband's sister | yaungma | sister-in-law | |||
| Elder brother's wife (male ego) Wife's elder sister | mayi | sister-in-law | |||
| Younger brother's wife (male ego) Wife's younger sister | khema | sister-in-law | |||
| Sister's husband Husband's younger brother Wife's brother | yaukpha | brother-in-law | |||
| Elder sister's husband (female ego) Husband's elder brother | khe-oh | brother-in-law | |||
| Younger sister's husband (female ego) Husband's younger brother | mat | brother-in-law | |||
| Son's wife | chwayma | daughter-in-law | |||
| Daughter's husband | thamet | son-in-law | |||
| Spouse's father | yaukkahti | father-in-law | |||
| Spouse's mother | yaukkhama | mother-in-law | |||