Akha has two writing systems, one using Thai and one using English letters. The English system is more common, and can be read by most Christian Akha.

The main Akha dialect is spoken in Thailand, Myanmar, Laos and the Yunnan province of China. Local variations are not major, although the three distinct Akha groups living in Thailand each have a slightly different dialect.

Akha language does not actually have a word for ‘go’ or ‘come’! Perhaps reflecting the fact that Akha traditionally live in the mountains, Akha use words meaning “come from lower” and “go to lower,” for locations south or lower down the mountain, and “come from upper” and “go to upper,” for locations north or higher in the mountain. So if you want to talk about coming and going, you have to know where to or from before you can speak! There are certain subjects which are taboo among non-Christian Akha: twins, hail, flowers, and death for example. It is also improper to ask an Akha person the name of their spouse.

Akha greet each other with the words: “Oo-doo-to-mah”

Thank you is “Guu-law-her-mah!”

If you want to ask if something hurts you can say, “Aloe mee alo?”

If you tell an Akha person hello or thank you in Akha, you will get a big grin in response – many Akha people can speak Thai but they love to see visitors using their own language!