Malay Phrasebook

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Introduction

Sunset in Borneo

Malay language is an Austronesian language spoken by the ethnic Malay and other ethnic groups in the Malay Peninsula, southern Thailand, the Philippines, Singapore, central eastern Sumatra, the Riau islands and parts of the coast of Borneo. It incorporates elements of the languages of surrounding regions, including Sanskrit, Hindi, Tamil, Arab, Chinese dialects, Portuguese, Spanish and English. Malay language was originally written in the Jawi script, which is an adaptation of the Arabic script. However, hundreds of years of European colonisation caused the romanisation of Malay language into using Latin alphabets, which makes it easier for their colonial masters to learn.

Malay language is an official language of the following Southeast Asian countries, where each uses a different name to refer to the language.

Brunei - Bahasa Melayu (Malay language)
Indonesia - Bahasa Indonesia (Indonesian language)
Malaysia - Bahasa Malaysia (Malaysian language)
Singapore - Bahasa Melayu (Malay language)
Timor-Leste - Bahasa Indonesia (Indonesian language)

Although they all are Malay language, Bahasa Indonesia has a distinct vocabulary compared with the other Malay-speaking countries. Indonesian also has many words that are unique and unfamiliar to the others. Malaysia and Singapore have the same accent and vocabulary, while Brunei and Malaysian Borneo has a slightly different accent.

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Basic Grammar

Pronunciation

Malay words are pronounced phonetically. Follow some simple rules and you are on the right track.

Consonant
Basically, consonants are pronounced the way they are in English, with a couple of exceptions.

c = /tʃʰ/ (chair)
g = /ɡ/ (go)
sy = /ʃ/ (shout) e.g. skuasy (squash), televisyen (television)

Vowel

a = ah /ɑː/ (father) In Malaysia and Singapore, if a word ends with an "a", that "a" has the ə (her) sound. (e.g. Saya (I/me) /sɑːyə/)
e = er /ə/ (her) For some words, ay /ɛ/ (café). e.g. meja /mɛ jɑː/ (table); sate /sɑːtɛ/ (satay).
i = ee /ɪ/ (sit)
o = oh /ɔː/ (no)
u = oo /ʊ/ (put)

These rules may be safely ignored if the word, mostly technical and modern technology terms, is borrowed from English language. e.g. televisyen, automatik, ambulans, komputer.

Plural

For plural terms, simply repeat the word. e.g. books: buku-buku; cars: kereta-kereta; people: orang-orang
However, when the context is already in plural, it cannot be repeated.

Three fingers - Tiga jari (correct); Tiga jari-jari (incorrect)
Many people - Banyak orang (correct); Banyak orang-orang (incorrect)

Past tenses

There is no past tense in Malay. To say something that's already happened, add the word sudah (already) before the verb.
e.g. Saya sudah makan. - I have already eaten.

However, this is not required if the context indicates that the action is in the past tense.
e.g. Dia pergi ke sekolah pagi tadi. - He went to school this morning.

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Useful Malay words and phrases

Note: The following are examples of Standard Malay in the Malaysian context, with some colloquial terms common to Malaysians and Singaporeans. These examples may also be used in Indonesia, in general.

Basic words

This - Ini / ni (colloquial)
That - Itu / tu (colloquial)
Am/Is/Are - Ialah | Adalah {Indonesian} (sometimes not required in a sentence. e.g. My name is Adam - Nama saya Adam)
And - Dan
Or - Atau
If - Jika or Kalau
Now - Sekarang
Later - Kemudian or Nanti (also means wait)
Like (similarity) - Seperti or Macam
(Dis)like - (Tak) Suka
Many/Few - Banyak / Sedikit or sikit
More/Less - Lebih/Kurang
Big/Small - Besar/Kecil
Long/Short - Panjang/Pendek /pɛndɛk/ (péndék)
Fat/Thin - Gemuk/Kurus
Fast - Cepat or Laju (speed)
Slow - Lambat or Perlahan (speed)
Early/Late - Awal/Lewat

Prepositions and directions

At - Di
By (me) - Oleh /ɔːlɛh/ (o-layh)
With - Dengan
From - Dari (used for places/things) or Daripada (used for people/establishment)
To - Ke /kə/ (kuh)
For - Untuk
Here/There - Sini/Sana
Inside/Outside - Dalam/Luar
Front/Back - Depan/Belakang
Next to - Sebelah
Opposite - Seberang
Up/Down - Atas/Bawah
Left/Right - Kiri/Kanan
Middle - Tengah (also means in the midst of)
North/South/East/West - Utara/Selatan/Timur/Barat
Centre - Pusat

Greetings and parting

How are you? - Apa khabar? | Apa kabar? {Indonesian}
Welcome - Selamat datang
Good morning - Selamat pagi
Good day (after 10am to 3pm) - Selamat siang {Indonesian}
Good afternoon (noon to 1pm) - Selamat tengah hari
Good afternoon (1pm to 6pm) - Selamat petang
Good afternoon (after 3pm to 6pm/before sunset) - Selamat sore {Indonesian}
Good evening/night (after 6pm/when night falls) - Selamat malam
Goodbye - No direct equivalent. Colloquially, bye-bye.
Have a safe trip/journey (Bon voyage) - Selamat jalan
See you again - Jumpa lagi | Sampai jumpa lagi {Indonesian}

Terms of address

I/Me - Saya or Aku (Saya is used in polite or formal conversation, whereas aku is used when speaking to peers or speaking in authority)
You - Kamu or Awak (Just like in Aku, Awak is usually used when speaking with peers or speaking in authority), Engkau or Kau (Quite rude and infomal. Only use it with close friends)
He/She/Him/Her - Dia (Malay does not use grammatical gender)
They/Them - Mereka
Person - Orang
Male/Man - Lelaki or Jantan (crude, usually used to refer to animals) | Laki-laki/Pria {Indonesian}
Female - Perempuan or Betina (crude, usually used to refer to animals) | Cewek {Indonesian}
Woman - Wanita
Child - Budak | Anak {Indonesian} -- note: in Indonesian languange, 'budak' means slave.
Children - Budak-budak or Kanak-kanak | Anak-anak {Indonesian}
Boy/Girl - Budak lelaki/perempuan | Anak laki-laki/perempuan {Indonesian}
Mr - Encik | Bapak/Tuan {Indonesian}
Mrs - No direct equivalent. Puan (madam) is usually used. | Ibu/Nyonya {Indonesian}
Miss - Cik | Nona {Indonesian}
Sir - Tuan
Madam - Puan
Father - Bapa or Ayah (dad)
Mother - Ibu or Emak/Mak (mum)
Brother (elder) - Abang (Note: Malays, like most Asians, address their elder sibblings by term rather than by name)
Sister (elder) - Kakak
Elder Brother/Sister - Kakak {Indonesian} -- the word 'abang' (elder brother) and 'kakak' (elder sister) is used in Sumatra dialect in Indonesia.
Brother/Sister (younger) - Adik (gender neutral) (also used to address children when you don't know their names)
Cousin - Sepupu
Grandfather - Datuk | Kakek {Indonesian}
Grandmother - Nenek
Uncle - Pak Cik (also used to address male elders of significant age gap as a sign of respect) | Paman {Indonesian} (most people use the word 'Oom', from Dutch language)
Aunt - Mak Cik (female counterpart of Pak Cik) | Bibi {Indonesian} (most people use the word 'Tante', from Dutch language)
Other people - Orang lain
Local - Orang tempatan or Orang sini (colloquial)
Foreigner - Orang asing (also means a stranger)

Thanks and apology

Thank you - Terima kasih
You are welcome - Sama-sama
Sorry/Please forgive me - Minta maaf (ma-af - two syllables) | Maaf / Mohon maaf {Indonesian}

Actions

Do - Buat | Lakukan {Indonesian}
Give - Beri or Bagi
Take - Ambil
Get - Dapat
Want - Hendak or Nak (colloquial) | Ingin {Indonesian}
Talk/Say - Cakap | Bicara {Indonesian}
Sell - Jual
Buy - Beli
Help - Tolong
Walk - Jalan
Run - Lari
Go in/out - Masuk/Keluar (also means entry/exit)
Stay - Tinggal
Go (there) - Pergi (sana)
Leave/return - Balik | Kembali {Indonesian}

Questions, answers and request

Who/Whom - Siapa
What - Apa
When - Bila | Kapan {Indonesian}
Where - Mana
Why - Kenapa
How - Bagaimana or Macam mana (colloquial)
Yes/No - Ya / Bukan or Tak/Tidak (depending on context)
Can(not) - (Tak/Tidak) Boleh | Tidak bisa {Indonesian}
Right/Wrong - Betul / Salah (or Tak/Tidak Betul)
Right (truth) - Benar
May I ask - Boleh saya tanya or Tumpang tanya (colloquial)
What is your name? My name is John. - Apa nama awak? Nama saya John. | Siapa nama anda? {Indonesian}
Where is the toilet? - Tandas di mana? | Toilet / kamar kecil di mana? {Indonesian}
Which one? - Yang mana satu? | Yang mana? {Indonesian}
What is the price for this? - Berapa harganya?
How much/How many? - Berapa?
I want this/that - Saya nak ini/itu | Saya ingin/mau ini/itu {Indonesian}
This/that one - Yang ini/itu.
I (don't) want - Saya (tak) nak | Saya (tidak) ingin/mau {Indonesian}
Give me this/that - Bagi saya ini/itu
Wait - Tunggu (Wait for me - Tunggu saya; Wait a moment - Tunggu sebentar)

Food

Eat - Makan
Food - Makanan
Drink (verb) - Minum
Drinks (noun) - Minuman
Water - Air (ah-yer)
Fruit - Buah (most fruits have the same pronunciation as per English fruit names)
Vegetable - Sayur
Egg - Telur
Meat - Daging (when speaking to an ethnic Malay, daging is the defacto for beef unless specified otherwise)
Fish - Ikan
Chicken - Ayam
Cow - Lembu (beef - daging lembu) | Sapi (beef - daging sapi) {Indonesian}
Goat - Kambing (mutton - daging kambing)
Pig - Babi/Khinzir (pork - daging babi) (Be careful with the usage as it also can be used as an insult, and is deemed sensitive to the Muslims)

Traffic and transportation

Road/Street - Jalan (other terms are also used: Lebuh, Persiaran, Changkat)
Lane - Lorong | Gang {Indonesian}
One-way street - Lorong/Jalan Sehala | Jalan satu arah {Indonesian}
Highway/Expressway - Lebuhraya | Jalan raya {Indonesian}
Stop/Go - Berhenti/Jalan
Caution - Awas
Keep right/left - Ikut Kiri/Kanan | Tetap di kanan/kiri {Indonesian}
Yield/Give way - Beri laluan | Beri jalan {Indonesian}
Train - Tren, Keretapi | Kereta api {Indonesian}
Bus - Bas | Bis/bus {Indonesian}
Taxi - Teksi | Taksi {Indonesian}
Car - Kereta | Mobil {Indonesian}
Lorry - Lori
Motorcycle - Motosikal | Motor / Sepeda motor {Indonesian}
Air/Land/Sea - Udara/Darat/Laut
Aeroplane - Kapal Terbang (literally flying ship) | Pesawat [terbang] {Indonesian}
Airport - Lapangan Terbang | Bandara (abbrev. of 'bandar udara') {Indonesian}
Boat/Ship - Bot/Kapal | Perahu/kapal {Indonesian}
Seaport - Pelabuhan

Public places

Town/City Centre - Pusat Bandar/Bandaraya | Kota / Pusat kota {Indonesian}
Police Station - Balai Polis | Kantor Polisi (literally police office) {Indonesian}
Hospital - Hospital | Rumah Sakit (literally sick house) {Indonesian}
Clinic - Klinik
Fire station - Balai Bomba (Bomba means fire brigade) | Kantor pemadam kebakaran (pemadam kebakaran means fire brigade) {Indonesian}
Post office - Pejabat Pos | Kantor pos {Indonesian}
Toilet - Tandas / Bilik Air (water closet) is sometimes used | Toilet / kamar kecil (lit. small room) {Indonesian}
Shop - Kedai | Toko {Indonesian}
Restaurant - Restoran | Restoran / rumah makan (lit. eating house) {Indonesian}
Food court - Medan Makanan or Medan Selera (colloquial, literally Appetite Court) | Food court / Pujasera (abbrev. of 'pusat jajan serba ada') {Indonesian}
Food stall - Gerai Makanan
Mosque - Masjid
Temple (Chinese) - Tokong | Klenteng {Indonesian}
Temple (Hindu) - Kuil | Pura (Balinese Hindu Temple) {Indonesian}
Temple (non-Chinese Indonesian Bhuddhist temple) - Candi {Indonesian}
Church - Gereja

Numbers, Dates and Time

Numbers

1. satu, 2. dua, 3. tiga, 4. empat, 5. lima, 6. enam, 7. tujuh, 8. lapan | delapan {Ind}, 9. sembilan, 10. sepuluh
11. sebelas, 12. dua belas, 13. tiga belas, 14. empat belas, ...
20. dua puluh, 21. dua puluh satu, 22, dua puluh dua, 23. dua puluh tiga, ...
30. tiga puluh, 31, tiga puluh satu, 32. tiga puluh dua, 33. tiga puluh tiga, ...
40. empat puluh, 50. lima puluh, 60. enam puluh, ...
100. satu ratus / seratus (literally a hundred), 200. dua ratus, 300. tiga ratus, ...
1000. satu ribu / seribu (a thousand), 2000. dua ribu, 3000. tiga ribu, ...
1 million. satu juta / sejuta (a million)

Dates

Day/Week/Month/Year - Hari/Minggu/Bulan/Tahun
Day of week (M,T,W,T,F,S,S) - Isnin | Senin {Ind}, Selasa, Rabu, Khamis | Kamis {Ind}, Jumaat | Jum'at {Ind}, Sabtu, Ahad | Minggu {Ind}
Month - Januari, Februari, Mac | Maret {Ind}, April, Mei, Jun | Juni {Ind}, Julai | Juli {Ind}, Ogos | Agustus {Ind}, September, Oktober, November, Disember | Desember {Ind}
Day before yesterday/Yesterday/Today/Tomorrow/Day after tomorrow - Kelmarin/Semalam/Hari ini/Esok/Lusa
Day before yesterday/Yesterday/Today/Tomorrow/Day after tomorrow - Kemarin dulu/Kemarin/Hari ini/Besok/Lusa
Last/Next year - Tahun lepas/depan | Tahun depan {Ind}

Time

Pagi (sunrise until before noon)
Tengah hari (midday/noon)
Petang (1pm - 6pm/before sunset)
Malam (after 6pm/when night falls)
Tengah malam (12am until before sunrise)
Jam (hour/clock), Minit (minute), Saat (second) | Jam, Menit, Detik {Ind}
Time: 11:32am (sebelas tiga puluh dua pagi), 4:15pm (empat suku petang - literally a quarter past four in the afternoon), 10:30pm (sepuluh setengah malam - literally half past ten at night), 12:45pm (dua belas tiga suku tengah malam - literally three quarter past twelve midnight)