kyat

American  

[kyaht, kee-aht] / kyɑt, kiˈɑt /

noun

1. a paper money, cupronickel coin, and monetary unit of Myanmar (Burma), equal to 100 pyas.

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kyat British  

/ kɪˈɑːt /

noun

1. the standard monetary unit of Myanmar, divided into 100 pyas

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Etymology

Origin of kyat

First recorded in 1950–55; from Burmese cyat (written kyap )

Example Sentences

A digital kyat removes that bottleneck by creating a seamless payment infrastructure.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 18, 2025

In Myanmar’s digital kyat pilot program, which the government announced in general terms in June, the Central Bank of Myanmar would issue digital kyat via authorized banks.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 18, 2025

Last year, Myanmar's central bank ordered ministries and local governments not to use foreign currencies for domestic transactions, to help relieve pressure on the kyat.

From Reuters • Mar. 31, 2023

Since last year’s coup, the kyat has fallen more than 50 percent against the dollar, and the cost of groceries, transportation and housing has skyrocketed.

From New York Times • Dec. 1, 2022

Burma has been unable to achieve   monetary or fiscal stability, resulting in an economy that suffers   from serious macroeconomic imbalances - including inflation and   multiple official exchange rates that overvalue the Burmese kyat.

From The 2005 CIA World Factbook by United States. Central Intelligence Agency