Shops and hotels in Malay
Open, closed, a bag, the wifi password: the checkout and the front desk. Play the ten Malay words against the clock, with a note on how locals really use each one after every answer. All ten are written out below.
All 10 Malay phrases in this lesson
- Ada...?AH-dah
- Do you have...?
- Di mana...?dee MAH-na
- Where is...?
- BukaBOO-ka
- Open
- TutupTOO-tup
- Closed
- Plastik?PLAS-tik
- A bag?
- Mahal sangatMA-hal SA-ngat
- Too expensive
- Saya ada tempahanSA-ya A-da tem-PA-han
- I have a reservation
- Sarapan termasuk?sa-RA-pan ter-MA-suk
- Is breakfast included?
- Apa kata laluan wifi?AH-pa KA-ta la-LOO-an WAI-fai
- What's the wifi password?
- Boleh saya...?BO-leh SA-ya
- Can I...?
Ada means to have or exist. "Ada roti?" (do you have bread?). Simple and direct. Supermarket staff understand this instantly and will point or fetch, or say "ada" (yes) or "tidak ada" (no).
"Di mana roti?" (where is bread?). The answer comes with a point or directions. Malaysian supermarkets are well-organized and small enough to browse; most items are easy to spot.
Plastik means plastic bag. Cashiers will ask this automatically. Many Malaysians bring reusable bags (tas), and plastic bags cost a few ringgit. Using your own bags marks you as environmentally aware.
Bargaining is normal at night markets, not in malls.
Kata laluan is literally "pass word".