The Malay course
Learn Malay ten words at a time
Bahasa Melayu
Ten games of ten words: the hundred most useful Malay words and expressions you could live on for years, from greetings and ordering food to numbers, small talk and getting around. Play a lesson in the box beside its words, and the next one starts itself.
Malay challenge
Do you know the essentials? 25 quick questions from across the course. Score high and you are ready for the trip.
Malay · Lesson 1 of 10
Greetings and politeness
Hello, thanks, please: the ten openers everything else builds on.
- HeloHEH-lo
- Hello
- HaiHY
- Hi
- Selamat pagise-LA-mat PA-gee
- Good morning
- Selamat malamse-LA-mat MA-lam
- Good night
- Terima kasih banyakte-REE-ma KA-sih BA-nyak
- Thank you very much
- Terima kasihte-REE-ma KA-sih
- Thanks
- Sama-samaSA-ma-SA-ma
- You're welcome
- TolongTO-long
- Please
- MaafMA-af
- Excuse me
- Selamat tinggalse-LA-mat TING-gal
- Goodbye
Malay · Lesson 2 of 10
Order anything by pointing
One beer please, one of these please, the bill: survive any menu.
- Satu bir, tolongSA-too beer, TO-long
- One beer, please
- Satu yang ini, tolongSA-too yang EE-nee, TO-long
- One of these, please
- Satu kopi, tolongSA-too KO-pee, TO-long
- One coffee, please
- Dua, tolongDOO-ah, TO-long
- Two, please
- Satu lagi, tolongSA-too LA-gee, TO-long
- One more, please
- Berapa harganya?beh-RA-pa HAR-ga-nya
- How much is it?
- Kira, tolongKE-ra, TO-long
- The bill, please
- Sudah cukupsoo-DAH CHOO-kup
- That's everything
- Cheers!cheers
- Cheers!
- Alhamdulillahal-ham-du-LIL-lah
- Bless you
Malay · Lesson 3 of 10
Yes, no and the essentials
The tiny words that carry half of every conversation.
- Yayah
- Yes
- Tidaktee-DAHK
- No
- Okayoh-KAY
- Okay
- Boleh, tiada masalahBO-leh, tee-AH-da ma-SA-lah
- Sure, no problem
- Saya tidak tahuSA-ya tee-DAHK TA-hoo
- I don't know
- Saya tidak fahamSA-ya tee-DAHK FAH-ham
- I don't understand
- Adakah anda bertutur bahasa Inggeris?AH-da-kah AN-da behr-TOO-tur BA-ha-sa ING-ger-is
- Do you speak English?
- Sedikitse-DEE-kit
- A little
- Tentu sajaTEN-too SA-ja
- Of course
- Semua baik-baik sajaseh-MOO-a BAIK-baik SA-ja
- Everything is fine
Malay · Lesson 4 of 10
Numbers and money
Counting, prices, paying by card or cash.
- SatuSA-too
- One
- DuaDOO-ah
- Two
- TigaTEE-gah
- Three
- EmpatEM-pat
- Four
- Sepuluhseh-POO-luh
- Ten
- Lima puluhLEE-ma POO-luh
- Fifty
- Seratusseh-RAH-tus
- One hundred
- RinggitRING-git
- Ringgit
- Kad kreditKAHD KREH-dit
- By card
- Tunaitoo-NAI
- In cash
Malay · Lesson 5 of 10
At the supermarket
Bread, milk, a bag, nothing else thanks: the checkout routine.
- RotiRO-tee
- Bread
- SusuSOO-soo
- Milk
- KejuKE-joo
- Cheese
- AirAH-eer
- Water
- Plastik?PLAS-tik
- A bag?
- Ada...?AH-dah
- Do you have...?
- Di mana...?dee MAH-na
- Where is...?
- Yang iniyang EE-nee
- This one
- Tidak ada lagitee-DAHK AH-da LA-gee
- Nothing else
- Selamat harise-LA-mat HA-ree
- Have a nice day
Malay · Lesson 6 of 10
Cafe and restaurant
A table, the menu, a compliment to the kitchen.
- Satu meja untuk duaSA-too MEH-ja OON-took DOO-ah
- A table for two
- Menu, tolongMEH-noo, TO-long
- The menu, please
- Satu kopi espressoSA-too KO-pee es-PRES-so
- One espresso
- Satu gelas anggurSA-too GEH-las ANG-goor
- A glass of wine
- Bir segarbeer SEH-gar
- Draft beer
- SateSA-tay
- Satay
- Sedap sekaliseh-DAHP seh-KA-lee
- It's delicious
- Tanpa aisTAM-pa AH-ees
- Without ice
- Bawa balikBAH-wa BA-lik
- To take away
- Simpan kembalianSIM-pan kem-BA-lee-an
- Keep the change
Malay · Lesson 7 of 10
Small talk and neighbors
How are you, nice day, see you soon: superficial and proud of it.
- Apa khabar anda?AH-pa KHA-bar AN-da
- How are you? (polite)
- Apa khabar?AH-pa KHA-bar
- How are you? (casual)
- Khabar baikKHA-bar BAIK
- I'm fine
- Macam mana dengan kamu?ma-CHAM MA-na den-GAN KA-moo
- And you?
- Ada berita apa?AH-da BER-ee-ta AH-pa
- What's new?
- Cuaca bagus, kan?CHOO-ah-cha BA-gus, kahn
- Nice weather, huh?
- Jumpa lagiJOOM-pa LA-gee
- See you soon
- Selamat petangse-LA-mat PEH-tang
- Have a nice evening
- Salam untuk keluargaSA-lam OON-took kel-OO-ar-gah
- Say hi to the family
- Semoga baik-baikseh-MO-gah BAIK-baik
- All the best
Malay · Lesson 8 of 10
Getting around
Left, right, the station, one ticket, where is the toilet.
- Di mana tandas?dee MAH-na TAN-das
- Where is the toilet?
- KiriKE-ree
- Left
- KananKA-nan
- Right
- Terus ke depanTEH-roos keh DEH-pan
- Straight ahead
- SiniSEE-nee
- Here
- SanaSA-na
- There
- Basbahs
- Bus
- Stesen kereta apiSTES-en keh-REH-ta AH-pee
- Train station
- Satu tiket, tolongSA-too TI-ket, TO-long
- One ticket, please
- Berhenti di sini, tolongber-HEN-tee dee SEE-nee, TO-long
- Stop here, please
Malay · Lesson 9 of 10
Time and days
Today, tomorrow, later, the weekend.
- Hari iniHA-ree EE-nee
- Today
- Hari esokHA-ree EH-sok
- Tomorrow
- Hari semalamHA-ree seh-MA-lam
- Yesterday
- Sekarangseh-KA-rang
- Now
- NantiNAN-tee
- Later
- Jam berapa sekarang?jam beh-RA-pa seh-KA-rang
- What time is it?
- Isninis-NIN
- Monday
- SabtuSAB-too
- Saturday
- AhadAH-had
- Sunday
- Hujung mingguHOO-jong MING-goo
- The weekend
Malay · Lesson 10 of 10
Help and emergencies
The words you hope to never need.
- Tolong!TO-long
- Help!
- Panggil doktorPANG-gil DOK-tor
- Call a doctor
- PolisPO-lis
- Police
- Farmasifar-MA-see
- Pharmacy
- Hospitalhos-pee-TAL
- Hospital
- Saya tersesatSA-ya ter-seh-SAT
- I'm lost
- Saya tidak sihatSA-ya tee-DAHK see-HAT
- I don't feel well
- Telefon sayateh-LEH-fon SA-ya
- My phone
- Ia telah dicuriee-AH teh-LAH dee-KOO-ree
- It was stolen
- Ini mendesakEE-nee men-DEH-sak
- It's urgent