Mingalarbar! "Mingalarbar” is the word of greeting in Myanmar that came into wide usage only after the country regained her independence. In former days the usual greeting was “Kyan gan thar lo mar yet lar,” or “Mar bar yet lar”, or more informally “Nay kaung lar” which the nearest in English means “How are you?” or “How do you do” to which one replies in like manner without the necessity of going into a long story of one’s state of health. It is the same almost for the Myanmar equivalent, but if someone should take you literally to give a reply in the affirmative it is also acceptable. But then the second person can in turn ask the same question as a form of politeness.