plural kyats or kyat
the basic monetary unit of Myanmar (Burma) see Money Table

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web Myanmar has banned car imports in an effort to shore up dwindling foreign currency reserves that have been under pressure due to soaring energy and food costs and weakness in the kyat. Khine Lin Kyaw, Bloomberg.com, 16 June 2022 Petrol prices have surged about 350% since the coup in February last year to 2,300-2,700 kyat (about $1) per litre. Reuters, CNN, 18 Aug. 2022 Once approved, traders can buy the currency at at the central bank’s reference rate of 1,850 kyat per dollar. Khine Lin Kyaw, Bloomberg.com, 16 June 2022 The value of the kyat, Myanmar’s currency, has tumbled 20% against the dollar. BostonGlobe.com, 7 Aug. 2021 Ethnic conflicts, violence and instability in the nation formerly known as Burma have left a dollar invested in a kyat at the beginning of the decade worth just 4 tenths of one US cent today. Paul R. La Monica, CNN, 17 Dec. 2019 Although bitcoin has been the star investment of the 2010s, anybody stuck with a spare kyat — the local currency of Myanmar — won't be too happy. Paul R. La Monica, CNN, 17 Dec. 2019 Its key provision allowed street demonstrations if permission was obtained beforehand, with failure to obtain permission punishable by three to six months’ imprisonment and a fine of 30,000 kyats ($22). Washington Post, 5 Mar. 2018 The ones being sold to Rohingya refugees are much less powerful, with a 20-watt panel going for 20,000 kyat (about $15). David Grossman, Popular Mechanics, 26 Dec. 2017 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'kyat.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Word History

Etymology

Burmese cʸat

First Known Use

1952, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of kyat was in 1952

Dictionary Entries Near kyat

Cite this Entry

“Kyat.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/kyat. Accessed 23 Mar. 2023.

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