page_title: Arakanese language
hierarchical_section_title: Arakanese language
context_page_description: Arakanese is a language closely related to Burmese, of which it is often considered a dialect. "Arakan" is the former name for the Rakhine region. Arakanese can be divided into three dialects: Sittwe–Marma, Ramree, and Thandwe. It is the native language of the Rakhine, Marma and Kamein peoples.
context_section_description: Arakanese (also known as Rakhine /rəˈkaɪn/; Burmese: ရခိုင်ဘာသာ, MLCTS: ra.hkuing bhasa [ɹəkʰàɪɴ bàθà]) is a language closely related to Burmese, of which it is often considered a dialect. "Arakan" is the former name for the Rakhine region. Arakanese can be divided into three dialects: Sittwe–Marma (about two thirds of speakers), Ramree, and Thandwe. It is the native language of the Rakhine, Marma and Kamein peoples.
caption: Rakhine State shown within Myanmar