Do visitors often ask what the basics of the Malaysian language are? When a foreigner listens to Malaysians speak English, they are often perplexed.
What sounds like English is not something most foreigners can understand.
The Malaysian Language Basics
The national language is the Malay language (Bahasa Melayu). Schools are taught in English, Mandarin, and Tamil.
Other commonly spoken languages include Malay, English, Mandarin (various dialects), Tamil, and other indigenous languages, totaling approximately 137.
Malaysians are multilingual.
Most of the locals easily switch between the three main languages.
We sometimes refer to Malaysian English as “Manglish.”
Malay is the easiest to learn, vs. the Hokkien dialects have 5 to 8 phonemic tones.
Let’s learn some basics of the Malaysian language so you can get around the country safely and communicate well.
Google’s free service instantly translates words and phrases.
Greetings and essentials in Malay
Let’s start with Numbers
- Satu (saa-too)
- Dua (doo-aa)
- Tiga (tee-gaa)
- Empat (erm-paat)
- Lima (lee-mah)
- Enam (er-nam)
- Tujuh (too-jooh)
- Lapan (laa-pan)
- Sembilan (sem-bee-lan)
- Sepuluh (se-poo-looh)
Image: mentatdgt
Simple Greetings in Malay.
Thank you – Terima kasih (te-ree-mah ka-seh)
Yes / No – Ya (yah) / Tidak (tee-dak)
Goodbye – Selamat Jalan (s’la-mat zha-lan)
You’re welcome – Sama-sama (saa-ma saa-ma) /
I don’t understand – Saya Tak Faham (saa-yah tak faa-haam)
Where is the bathroom? – Di mana tandas (dee ma-na tan-das)
Turn right / Turn left – Belok kanan / Belok kiri (beh-lock kaa-naan / beh-lock kee-ree)
Go straight – Jalan terus (zha-lan te-roos)
Slow down – Perlahan sikit (per-laa-haan see-keet)
How do you order food in Malay?
Less sweet – Kurang manis (koo-raang maa-nees)
No sugar – Tanpa gula (tan-pa goo-lah)
Less ice -Kurang ais (koo-raang aa-is)
No milk – Tanpa susu (tan-pa soo-soo)
Extra spicy / Less spicy – Tambah pedas / Kurang pedas (tam-bah pe-das / koo-raang pe-das)
Tasty – Sedap (se-daap)
Water – Air (ah-yer)
Hot – Panas (paa-nas)
How to bargain in Malay?
How much? – Berapa (be-raa-paa)
Expensive – Mahal (maa-hal)
Simple Conversation in Malay.
Have you eaten? – Dah makan (daa-h maa-kan)
Beautiful – Cantik (chan-tek)
Let’s go – Jom (zhom)
Please – Tolong (toh-long)
Can – Boleh (bow-leh)
When a Malaysian asks to speak in Malay, you can answer “BOLEH” to mean no problem.
Source:
What Languages Are Spoken In Malaysia?
