This document provides basic conversational Malay phrases for introductions, greetings, asking for help and directions, solving misunderstandings, commonly used phrases, and other cultural information about the Malay language. It includes numbers, pronouns, colors, common objects, body parts, people, verbs and questions. Phrases are provided in both English and Malay to help with basic communication in Malay. Information is also given on singular vs plural forms, levels of formality in pronouns, addressing others appropriately, and the predominantly Muslim religion in Malaysia.

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

2. 2
them/they
us
Connectors
and
then
but
because
when?
when
where?
who?
who
what?
why?
how?
there
here
this
that
like this
like that
mereka
kami
Kata Hubung
dan
kemudian
tetapi
kerana/sebab
bila?
apabila
di mana?
siapa?
yang
apa?
mengapa?/kenapa?
bagaimana?
di sana
di sini
ini
itu
macam ini
macam itu
Introduction and greetings
English Malay
Hello
Good morning
Good afternoon
Goodnight
Goodbye
See you again
Today
Tomorrow
Yesterday
Next week
Next month
Next year
My name is ____________
What is your name?
I am from _____________
Hello
Selamat pagi
Selamat tengahari
Selamat malam
Selamat jalan
Jumpa lagi
Hari ini
Esok
Semalam
Minggu depan
Bulan depan
Tahun depan
Nama saya ____________
Nama awak siapa?
Saya dari _____________

3. 3
I am ______ years old
How are you?
I’m fine
Let’s eat
Let’s play
Together
Happy birthday
Happy new year
Happy Hari Raya
Welcome
Thank you
You’re welcome
Congratulations!
My condolences
I’m so sorry
Enjoy your meal!
Please go ahead and eat
Umur saya ______ tahun
Apa khabar?
Khabar baik
Mari makan
Mari main
Sama-sama
Selamat hari jadi
Selamat tahun baru
Selamat Hari Raya
Selamat datang
Terima kasih
Sama-sama kasih
Tahniah!
Salam takziah
Maafkan saya
Selamat menjamu selera!
Sila makan
Common phrases to start a conversation
English Malay
It’s such a beautiful day
The weather today is so good
It’s raining heavily today, isn’t it?
The weather is so cooling today!
How did your day went?
Have you eaten?
What did you eat?
What are your hobbies?
What is your favourite food?
What music do you listen to?
Are you going out today?
Where are you going off to?
How old are you?
Hari ini sangat indah
Cuaca hari ini bagus sekali
Hari ini hujan lebat ya?
Hari ini sejuk sekali!
Bagamana hari kamu?
Awak sudah makan?
Awak makan apa?
Apa minat awak?
Awak suka makan apa?
Awak suka dengar lagu apa?
Awak keluar tak niari / hari ini?
Awak nak pergi mana?
Umur awak berapa?

4. 4
Replies in a conversation
English Malay
Yes
No
Okay
I’m fine
Oh, that’s good / nice!
I already ate
I ate ____________
I like to eat ____________
I like to / I love to ___________
I feel cold / warm
I like to listen to rock / ballads / pop
How about you?
I’m going off to ____________
It was a pleasure talking to you
I have to go now
I will be right back
I’m ____ years old
Ya
Tidak
Okey
Saya baik
Baguslah tu!
Saya sudah makan
Saya makan ___________
Saya suka makan ____________
Saya suka ______________
Saya rasa sejuk / panas
Saya suka dengar lagu rock / balada / pop
Awak pula bagaimana?
Saya nak pergi ke ____________
Seronok sangat dapat berbual dengan awak
Saya minta diri dulu ya
Nanti saya datang balik
Saya ____ tahun

5. 5
Asking for help and directions
English Malay
Sorry, mister / miss, I’m lost
Can you help me?
Can you show me the way to ___________?
Toilet
Clinic
Class
Hall
Exit
Entrance
Office
Airport
Village
House
Can I help you?
Go straight
Go left / right
Then
It’s behind / in front of that place (point finger
to direction)
I’m looking for __________
One moment please / Please wait
How much does this cost?
Excuse me (to ask something)
Excuse me (to pass by)
Come with me
I’ll show you
What time is it now?
It is ____ in the morning / afternoon / at night
Maaf, encik / cik, saya sesat
Boleh awak / encik / cik tolong saya?
Boleh awak tunjuk saya mana _________?
Tandas
Klinik
Kelas
Dewan
Jalan keluar
Tempat masuk
Pejabat / ofis
Lapangan terbang
Kampung
Rumah
Boleh saya tolong awak?
Jalan terus
Belok kiri / kanan
Kemudian
Ia di belakang / depan tempat tu (point finger
to direction)
Saya tengah cari ___________
Tunggu sekejap ya
Harga ini berapa?
Tompang tanya
Tompang lalu
Mari ikut saya
Mari saya tunjukkan awak
Sekarang pukul berapa?
Sekarang pukul ____ pagi / petang / malam

6. 6
Solving a misunderstanding
English Malay
Sorry
No problem!
Can you say it again?
Can you say it slowly?
What is this in Malay?
What is the English word for this?
Can you write it down for me?
I don’t understand
I don’t know
What is this?
I’m not good in speaking Malay
Don’t worry!
Help!
I need a doctor
I feel sick
Call the police / ambulance / firefighters
Maafkan saya
Tak ada masalah!
Boleh awak ulang lagi?
Boleh awak cakap pelan-pelan?
Dalam Bahasa Melayu, ini apa?
Dalam Bahasa Inggeris, ini apa?
Boleh awak tuliskan saya?
Saya tak faham
Saya tak tahu
Apa ini?
Saya tak pandai cakap Melayu
Tak apa! / Jangan risau!
Tolong!
Saya perlukan doktor
Saya rasa sakit
Panggil polis / ambulans / ahli bomba
Commonly used phrases
English Malay
Adjectives
good / bad (for humans)
good / bad (for objects)
smart / stupid
slim / fat
tall / high / short / low
clean / dirty
rich / poor
wet / dry
big / small
hungry / thirsty
noisy / silent
fragrant / smelly
happy / sad
angry / excited
tired / energetic
baik / tak baik
baik / jahat
pandai / bodoh
kurus / gemuk
tinggi / tinggi / pendek / rendah
bersih / kotor
kaya / miskin
basah / kering
besar / kecil
lapar / haus
bising / sunyi
wangi / busuk
gembira / sedih
marah / tidak sabar
penat / bertenaga

7. 7
When Adressing Someone
sir / madam (older generation)
mister / miss (youth)
mister / miss (kids)
Colours
colour
red / yellow / green / white / black / brown
grey / blue / pink / orange / purple / gold
silver / bronze
Common Objects
cat / dog
computer
book
plate
bowl
cup
spoon / fork
door
house
room
bathe
kitchen
chicken / beef / mutton
vegetable
motorcycle / taxi / bus / train
shop
road
walk
tree / flower / leaf / grass
sky / land
sun / moon / star
animal
money
wood / metal / plastic
coffee / tea
water / fire
Body Parts
face
eyes / nose / mouth / ears / hands / feet
pakcik / makcik
abang / kakak
adik
warna
merah / kuning / hijau / putih / hitam / coklat
kelabu / biru / merah jambu / ungu / emas
perak / gangsa
kucing / anjing
komputer
buku
pinggan
mangkuk
cawan
sudu / garfu
pintu
rumah
bilik
mandi
dapur
ayam / daging lembu / daging kambing
sayur
motosikal / teksi / bas / kereta api
kedai
jalan
jalan
pokok / bunga / daun / rumput
langit / bumi
matahari / bulan / bintang
binatang
duit
kayu / besi / plastic
kopi / the
air / api
muka
mata / hidung / mulut / telinga / tangan / kaki

8. 8
People
baby
teacher
family
mother / father
grandmother / grandfather
sister / brother / younger sibling
Others
I want to ________ (verb)
I want a _______ (noun)
I need a _______ (noun)
I see a ________ (noun / noun with adjective)
hear / smell / feel / taste
I don’t want
really!
look!
hurry!
I love you
I like you
Other Information on Malay Language
singular vs. plural
▪ When you are referring to more than
one object, you say it twice.
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
▪ vulgarities are commonly used in the
Malay language
bayi
cikgu
keluarga
ibu / ayah
nenek / datuk
kakak / abang / adik
saya nak __________ (eg. makan / mandi)
saya nak __________ (eg. kucing)
saya perlukan __________ (eg. pensel)
saya nampak __________ (eg. pokok besar)
dengar / bau / rasa / rasa
saya tak nak
betul!
tengok!
cepat!
saya sayang awak
saya suka kamu
examples:
▪ binatang vs. binatang-binatang
▪ kedai vs. kedai-kedai
▪ kucing vs. kucing-kucing
▪ makcik vs. makcik-makcik
examples:
▪ sial – bad luck / What the F***

9. 9
▪ it is used for the function of humour or
used in a casual conversation
▪ do not be offended
▪ most probably it means that they are
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
▪
▪
▪
▪
▪ bodoh - stupid
▪ mangkuk - bowl
siol – whistle / scolding
siak –
lahabau – idiot
mucibot – Misfortune
What The Hell