Conversational_Malay

Conversational Malay

Basics Malay

Numbers, pronouns, and connectors. Nombor
satu
English dua
tiga
Numbers empat
one lima
two enam
three tujuh
four lapan
five sembilan
six sepuluh
seven sebelas
eight dua belas
nine dua puluh
ten tiga puluh satu
eleven seratus
twelve satu ratus tiga
twenty satu ratus tiga puluh tiga
thirty-one dua ratus
one hundred seribu
one hundred and three satu ribu dua ratus lima puluh lima
one hundred and thirty-three
two hundred Kata Ganti Nama
one thousand saya
one thousand, two hundred and fifty-five awak
dia
Pronouns dia punya
I lelaki
you budak lelaki
him/her wanita
his/hers budak perempuan
man kita
boy
woman
girl
we

them/they mereka
us kami

Connectors Kata Hubung
and dan
then kemudian
but tetapi
because kerana/sebab
when? bila?
when apabila
where? di mana?
who? siapa?
who yang
what? apa?
why? mengapa?/kenapa?
how? bagaimana?
there di sana
here di sini
this ini
that itu
like this macam ini
like that macam itu

Introduction and greetings Malay

English Hello
Selamat pagi
Hello Selamat tengahari
Good morning Selamat malam
Good afternoon Selamat jalan
Goodnight Jumpa lagi
Goodbye Hari ini
See you again Esok
Today Semalam
Tomorrow Minggu depan
Yesterday Bulan depan
Next week Tahun depan
Next month Nama saya ____________
Next year Nama awak siapa?
My name is ____________ Saya dari _____________
What is your name?
I am from _____________

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I am ______ years old Umur saya ______ tahun
How are you? Apa khabar?
I’m fine Khabar baik
Let’s eat Mari makan
Let’s play Mari main
Together Sama-sama
Selamat hari jadi
Happy birthday Selamat tahun baru
Happy new year Selamat Hari Raya
Selamat datang
Happy Hari Raya Terima kasih
Welcome Sama-sama kasih
Tahniah!
Thank you Salam takziah
You’re welcome Maafkan saya
Congratulations! Selamat menjamu selera!
My condolences Sila makan
I’m so sorry
Enjoy your meal!

Please go ahead and eat

Common phrases to start a conversation

English Malay

It’s such a beautiful day Hari ini sangat indah
The weather today is so good Cuaca hari ini bagus sekali
It’s raining heavily today, isn’t it? Hari ini hujan lebat ya?
The weather is so cooling today! Hari ini sejuk sekali!
How did your day went? Bagamana hari kamu?
Have you eaten? Awak sudah makan?
What did you eat? Awak makan apa?
What are your hobbies? Apa minat awak?
What is your favourite food? Awak suka makan apa?
What music do you listen to? Awak suka dengar lagu apa?
Are you going out today? Awak keluar tak niari / hari ini?
Where are you going off to? Awak nak pergi mana?
How old are you? Umur awak berapa?

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Replies in a conversation Malay

English Ya
Tidak
Yes Okey
No Saya baik
Okay Baguslah tu!
I’m fine Saya sudah makan
Oh, that’s good / nice! Saya makan ___________
I already ate Saya suka makan ____________
I ate ____________ Saya suka ______________
I like to eat ____________ Saya rasa sejuk / panas
I like to / I love to ___________ Saya suka dengar lagu rock / balada / pop
I feel cold / warm Awak pula bagaimana?
I like to listen to rock / ballads / pop Saya nak pergi ke ____________
How about you? Seronok sangat dapat berbual dengan awak
I’m going off to ____________ Saya minta diri dulu ya
It was a pleasure talking to you Nanti saya datang balik
I have to go now Saya ____ tahun
I will be right back
I’m ____ years old

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Asking for help and directions

English Malay

Sorry, mister / miss, I’m lost Maaf, encik / cik, saya sesat
Can you help me? Boleh awak / encik / cik tolong saya?
Can you show me the way to ___________? Boleh awak tunjuk saya mana _________?
Toilet Tandas
Clinic Klinik
Class Kelas
Hall Dewan
Exit Jalan keluar
Entrance Tempat masuk
Office Pejabat / ofis
Airport Lapangan terbang
Village Kampung
House Rumah
Can I help you? Boleh saya tolong awak?
Go straight Jalan terus
Go left / right Belok kiri / kanan
Then Kemudian
It’s behind / in front of that place (point finger Ia di belakang / depan tempat tu (point finger
to direction) to direction)
I’m looking for __________ Saya tengah cari ___________
One moment please / Please wait Tunggu sekejap ya
How much does this cost? Harga ini berapa?
Excuse me (to ask something) Tompang tanya
Excuse me (to pass by) Tompang lalu
Come with me Mari ikut saya
I’ll show you Mari saya tunjukkan awak
What time is it now? Sekarang pukul berapa?
It is ____ in the morning / afternoon / at night Sekarang pukul ____ pagi / petang / malam

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Solving a misunderstanding Malay

English Maafkan saya
Tak ada masalah!
Sorry Boleh awak ulang lagi?
No problem! Boleh awak cakap pelan-pelan?
Can you say it again? Dalam Bahasa Melayu, ini apa?
Can you say it slowly? Dalam Bahasa Inggeris, ini apa?
What is this in Malay? Boleh awak tuliskan saya?
What is the English word for this? Saya tak faham
Can you write it down for me? Saya tak tahu
I don’t understand Apa ini?
I don’t know Saya tak pandai cakap Melayu
What is this? Tak apa! / Jangan risau!
I’m not good in speaking Malay Tolong!
Don’t worry! Saya perlukan doktor
Help! Saya rasa sakit
I need a doctor Panggil polis / ambulans / ahli bomba
I feel sick
Call the police / ambulance / firefighters Malay

Commonly used phrases baik / tak baik
baik / jahat
English pandai / bodoh
kurus / gemuk
Adjectives tinggi / tinggi / pendek / rendah
good / bad (for humans) bersih / kotor
good / bad (for objects) kaya / miskin
smart / stupid basah / kering
slim / fat besar / kecil
tall / high / short / low lapar / haus
clean / dirty bising / sunyi
rich / poor wangi / busuk
wet / dry gembira / sedih
big / small marah / tidak sabar
hungry / thirsty penat / bertenaga
noisy / silent
fragrant / smelly
happy / sad
angry / excited
tired / energetic

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When Adressing Someone pakcik / makcik
sir / madam (older generation) abang / kakak
mister / miss (youth) adik
mister / miss (kids)
warna
Colours merah / kuning / hijau / putih / hitam / coklat
colour kelabu / biru / merah jambu / ungu / emas
red / yellow / green / white / black / brown perak / gangsa
grey / blue / pink / orange / purple / gold
silver / bronze kucing / anjing
komputer
Common Objects buku
cat / dog pinggan
computer mangkuk
book cawan
plate sudu / garfu
bowl pintu
cup rumah
spoon / fork bilik
door mandi
house dapur
room ayam / daging lembu / daging kambing
bathe sayur
kitchen motosikal / teksi / bas / kereta api
chicken / beef / mutton kedai
vegetable jalan
motorcycle / taxi / bus / train jalan
shop pokok / bunga / daun / rumput
road langit / bumi
walk matahari / bulan / bintang
tree / flower / leaf / grass binatang
sky / land duit
sun / moon / star kayu / besi / plastic
animal kopi / the
money air / api
wood / metal / plastic
coffee / tea muka
water / fire mata / hidung / mulut / telinga / tangan / kaki

Body Parts
face
eyes / nose / mouth / ears / hands / feet

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People bayi
baby cikgu
teacher keluarga
family ibu / ayah
mother / father nenek / datuk
grandmother / grandfather kakak / abang / adik
sister / brother / younger sibling

Others saya nak __________ (eg. makan / mandi)
I want to ________ (verb) saya nak __________ (eg. kucing)
I want a _______ (noun) saya perlukan __________ (eg. pensel)
I need a _______ (noun) saya nampak __________ (eg. pokok besar)
I see a ________ (noun / noun with adjective) dengar / bau / rasa / rasa
hear / smell / feel / taste saya tak nak
I don’t want betul!
really! tengok!
look! cepat!
hurry! saya sayang awak
I love you saya suka kamu
I like you

Other Information on Malay Language

singular vs. plural examples:
▪ When you are referring to more than ▪ binatang vs. binatang-binatang
▪ kedai vs. kedai-kedai
one object, you say it twice. ▪ kucing vs. kucing-kucing
▪ makcik vs. makcik-makcik

you the words awak, kau & kamu all refer
▪
to the same word, you, but with
▪
▪ different levels of formality
▪ awak – friend
▪ kau – close friend
kamu – peer (not so close)

some people who are not close to you

may find it rude for you to use the
word kau so it’s safer to use awak or

kamu

vulgarities examples:
▪ vulgarities are commonly used in the ▪ sial – bad luck

Malay language

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▪ it is used for the function of humour or ▪ siol – whistle
used in a casual conversation ▪ siak – a caretaker of the mosque
▪ lahabau – ?
▪ do not be offended ▪ cipot – ?
▪ most probably it means that they are ▪ bodoh - stupid
▪ mangkuk - bowl
comfortable with you
▪ unless they show an angry expression
▪ most of the time even the words used

as vulgarities have a completely
different meaning that is completely
innocent
▪ for example, mangkuk means bowl!

addressing someone
▪ if you call someone who is just a little
bit older than you a makcik or pakcik,
they are going to be very angry
▪ call them kakak or abang instead
▪ or if you want to be safe, refer to them
as awak
▪ same goes for if you call someone
who is your mother’s age kakak or
abang, they are going to be angry at
you for an act of disrespect
▪ call them makcik or pakcik instead

religion
▪ most malays are muslims
▪ so, if you hear arabic words like
assalamualaikum, inshaaAllah, or
alhamdulillah and you are not a
muslim, just smile and nod
▪ they celebrate the fasting month and
hari raya

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