Learning Malay: a practical guide
This is a written companion to the free Malay course on LanguagePath: what the language is like, how it sounds, the phrases you will use first, how the course is structured, and what to watch out for. Everything here comes from the same lessons you can practise interactively above.
What Malay is like
Malay is one of the friendliest languages to learn. There is no verb conjugation and no gender: saya mahu means "I want" and "I wanted" — context tells you the time. Word order is simple (subject + verb + object): saya mahu nasi = I want rice. Nouns have no singular/plural change — add banyak (many) to mean a lot. To ask a question, start with a question word like apa (what), di mana (where), bila (when), or use Ada…? for "is there / do you have". tidak/tak = no (with verbs), bukan = not (with nouns). Possession is simple: put the thing first, then the owner — nama saya = my name, rumah saya = my house.
Words you may already know
Pronunciation notes
Malay is beautifully phonetic — each letter has one sound and almost everything is said the way it is written. Master these and you can read any word aloud.
- c — always "ch" as in church — never "k", as in cinta = CHIN-tah (love) · Cina = CHEE-nah (China).
- j — always "j" as in jam — never "y", as in jalan = JAH-lahn (road) · jangan = JAH-ngahn (don't).
- ng — one sound, as in "singer" — not n + g, as in kampung = kahm-POONG (village) · sangat = SAH-ngaht (very).
- ny — like "ny" in canyon — n + y together, as in banyak = BAH-nyahk (many) · nyaman = NYAH-mahn (comfortable).
- e — a soft "uh" (schwa), like the "e" in "the", as in empat = ehm-PAHT (four) · enam = uh-NAHM (six).
- r — lightly rolled, like a Spanish or Scottish r, as in roti = ROH-tee (bread) · rumah = ROO-mah (house).
- ai / au — "ai" like "eye" and "au" like "ow", as in pantai = pahn-TAI (beach) · pulau = POO-lau (island).
First phrases
The pocket phrases below are the ones learners reach for most often. Say each one out loud a few times before moving on.
| Malay | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Selamat pagi | suh-LAH-maht PAH-gee | Good morning |
| Selamat petang | suh-LAH-maht puh-TAHNG | Good afternoon |
| Apa khabar? | AH-pah KAH-bar | How are you? |
| Khabar baik | KAH-bar bah-EEK | I'm fine |
| Nama saya Alex | NAH-mah SAH-yah Alex | My name is... |
| Selamat tinggal | suh-LAH-maht TING-gahl | Goodbye |
| Terima kasih | tuh-REE-mah KAH-seh | Thank you |
| Sama-sama | SAH-mah SAH-mah | You're welcome |
| Tolong | TOH-long | Please / help |
| Maaf | MAH-af | Sorry |
| Ya | yah | Yes |
| Tidak | TEE-dak | No |
| Satu | SAH-too | 1 |
| Dua | DOO-ah | 2 |
| Tiga | TEE-gah | 3 |
| Empat | ehm-PAHT | 4 |
| Lima | LEE-mah | 5 |
| Sepuluh | suh-POO-looh | 10 |
| Nasi | NAH-see | rice |
| Air | AH-eer | water |
| Teh tarik | teh TAH-reek | pulled tea |
| Sedap | suh-DAHP | delicious |
| Di mana...? | dee MAH-nah | Where is...? |
| Kiri | KEE-ree | left |
| Kanan | KAH-nahn | right |
| Lurus | LOO-roos | straight ahead |
| Berapa harga ini? | buh-RAH-pah HAR-gah EE-nee | How much is this? |
| Boleh kurang? | BOH-leh KOO-rang | Can you drop the price? |
| Mahal | MAH-hal | expensive |
| Tolong! | TOH-long | Help! |
How the Malay course is structured
The course has 16 short lessons that build on each other. Each one introduces a few new pieces and then asks you to construct sentences you have never seen, before revealing the answer:
- Greetings & being polite — selamat pagi · hai · apa khabar
- Being polite — terima kasih · tolong · sama-sama · maaf
- Numbers 1–10 — satu · dua · tiga · sepuluh
- I want" — saya mahu — saya · mahu · nak
- Food & drink — nasi · air · teh tarik · roti canai · sedap
- Getting around — di mana · kiri · kanan · lurus
- Questions & "do you have…?" — ada · apa · bila · berapa
- Family & people — keluarga · ibu · ayah · adik · kawan
- Time, days & weather — hari ini · esok · cuaca · hujan · panas
- Small talk & your name — nama saya · apa nama · selamat berkenalan
- Emergency & health — tolong · sakit · doktor · tidak faham
- Tying it together — a capstone scene — greetings, wants, places
- Airport & tickets — lapangan terbang · pasport · tiket · pintu
- The taxi — teksi · pergi · hotel · berhenti
- The hotel — tempahan · bilik · kunci · malam
- Ask for help — tidak faham · perlahan · Inggeris
Inside the lessons
Here is how a few of the lessons explain the language, with worked examples and the word-by-word breakdown the course uses.
Greetings & being polite
Key pieces: selamat pagi · hai · apa khabar
Start with your first greeting: selamat pagi — good morning. Say it out loud. Selamat works like "safe/peace" and appears in almost every greeting.
- Selamat pagi (suh-LAH-maht PAH-gee) — good morning Memory hook: selamat ≈ Arabic "salam" (peace).
- Selamat petang (suh-LAH-maht puh-TAHNG) — good afternoon / evening
- Selamat malam (suh-LAH-maht MAH-lahm) — good night
- Hai (hai) — hello
- Selamat tinggal (suh-LAH-maht TING-gahl) — goodbye
To say “Hello” in Malay: Hai (hai). Built from hai = hello.
To ask how someone is: Apa khabar? — literally "what news?". Reply khabar baik — I'm fine.
- Apa khabar? (AH-pah KAH-bar) — How are you? Memory hook: khabar ≈ Arabic "khabar" (news).
- Khabar baik (KAH-bar bah-EEK) — I'm fine
To say “Hello, how are you?” in Malay: Hai, apa khabar? (hai, AH-pah KAH-bar). Built from hai = hello; apa khabar = how are you?.
Being polite
Key pieces: terima kasih · tolong · sama-sama · maaf
The two words that open every door: terima kasih (thank you) and tolong (please / help).
- Terima kasih (tuh-REE-mah KAH-seh) — thank you
- Sama-sama (SAH-mah SAH-mah) — you're welcome
- Tolong (TOH-long) — please / help
- Maaf (MAH-af) — sorry / excuse me
- Ya (yah) — yes
- Tidak (TEE-dak) — no
To say “Thank you” in Malay: Terima kasih (tuh-REE-mah KAH-seh). Built from terima kasih = thank you.
Reply to a thank-you with sama-sama — you're welcome. And maaf gets you out of any small mistake.
To say “Please help” in Malay: Tolong (TOH-long). Built from tolong = please / help.
To say “Thank you very much” in Malay: Terima kasih banyak (tuh-REE-mah KAH-seh bah-NYAHK). Built from terima kasih = thank you; banyak = many / a lot.
Numbers 1–10
Key pieces: satu · dua · tiga · sepuluh
Numbers are the fastest win. Listen and repeat: satu, dua, tiga .
- satu (SAH-too) — 1
- dua (DOO-ah) — 2
- tiga (TEE-gah) — 3
- empat (ehm-PAHT) — 4
- lima (LEE-mah) — 5
- enam (uh-NAHM) — 6
- tujuh (TOO-joo) — 7
- lapan (LAH-pahn) — 8
- sembilan (suhm-BEE-lahn) — 9
- sepuluh (suh-POO-looh) — 10
To say “Two, please” in Malay: Dua, tolong (DOO-ah, TOH-long). Built from dua = two; tolong = please.
To ask a price or amount: berapa…? (how much / how many). Put harga (price) after it for prices.
To say “How much is it?” in Malay: Berapa harganya? (buh-RAH-pah HAR-gah-nyah). Built from berapa = how much; harganya = its price.
To say “It's five” in Malay: Lima (LEE-mah). Built from lima = five.
I want" — saya mahu
Key pieces: saya · mahu · nak
The magic word for ordering anything: mahu — to want. Say saya mahu = I want.
saya = I / me. It is the polite, safest word for yourself.
To say “I want water” in Malay: Saya mahu air (SAH-yah MAH-hoo AH-eer). Built from saya = I; mahu = want; air = water.
In everyday speech people say saya nak — same meaning, more casual.
To say “I want tea” in Malay: Saya mahu teh (SAH-yah MAH-hoo teh). Built from saya = I; mahu = want; teh = tea.
To say “I want fried rice” in Malay: Saya mahu nasi goreng (SAH-yah MAH-hoo NAH-see GOH-reng). Built from saya mahu = I want; nasi = rice; goreng = fried.
Food & drink
Key pieces: nasi · air · teh tarik · roti canai · sedap
Eating out? nasi (rice) is the heart of every meal, and air (water) is always close by.
- nasi (NAH-see) — rice
- air (AH-eer) — water
- teh tarik (teh TAH-reek) — pulled tea
- roti canai (ROH-tee CHAH-nai) — flatbread
- ayam (AH-yahm) — chicken
- sedap (suh-DAHP) — delicious
To say “I want chicken rice” in Malay: Saya mahu nasi ayam (SAH-yah MAH-hoo NAH-see AH-yahm). Built from saya mahu = I want; nasi = rice; ayam = chicken.
teh tarik is Malaysia's famous "pulled" milk tea. Order one with roti canai .
To say “Teh tarik, please” in Malay: Teh tarik, tolong (teh TAH-reek, TOH-long). Built from teh tarik = pulled tea; tolong = please.
To say “It's delicious!” in Malay: Sedap! (suh-DAHP). Built from sedap = delicious.
Getting around
Key pieces: di mana · kiri · kanan · lurus
The most useful question anywhere: Di mana…? — where is…?
- Di mana...? (dee MAH-nah) — Where is...?
- kiri (KEE-ree) — left
- kanan (KAH-nahn) — right
- lurus (LOO-roos) — straight ahead
- stesen (STAY-sen) — station Memory hook: ≈ English "station".
- pasar (PAH-sar) — market Memory hook: ≈ English "bazaar" (from Persian).
To say “Where is the station?” in Malay: Di mana stesen? (dee MAH-nah STAY-sen). Built from di mana = where is; stesen = the station. stesen ≈ English "station".
kiri = left, kanan = right, lurus = straight ahead. To say "turn left": belok kiri .
To say “Where is the market?” in Malay: Di mana pasar? (dee MAH-nah PAH-sar). Built from di mana = where is; pasar = the market.
To say “Go straight” in Malay: Jalan lurus (JAH-lahn LOO-roos). Built from jalan = go / walk; lurus = straight.
Questions & "do you have…?"
Key pieces: ada · apa · bila · berapa
To ask if someone has something: Ada…? — "do you have / is there…?".
To say “Do you have a table?” in Malay: Ada meja? (AH-dah MAY-jah). Built from ada = do you have / is there; meja = a table.
Question words are easy: apa (what), siapa (who), bila (when), mana (where), berapa (how much).
- apa (AH-pah) — what
- siapa (see-AH-pah) — who
- bila (BEE-lah) — when
- di mana (dee MAH-nah) — where
- berapa (buh-RAH-pah) — how much / many
To say “What is this?” in Malay: Apa ini? (AH-pah EE-nee). Built from apa = what; ini = this.
To say “Do you have water?” in Malay: Ada air? (AH-dah AH-eer). Built from ada = do you have; air = water.
Family & people
Key pieces: keluarga · ibu · ayah · adik · kawan
Family words: keluarga (family), ibu (mother), ayah (father).
- keluarga (kuh-LOO-ar-gah) — family
- ibu (EE-boo) — mother
- ayah (AH-yah) — father
- adik (AH-deek) — younger sibling
- anak (AH-nahk) — child
- kawan (KAH-wahn) — friend
To say “This is my family” in Malay: Ini keluarga saya (EE-nee kuh-LOO-ar-gah SAH-yah). Built from ini = this; keluarga = family; saya = my.
Ini… = this is…, itu = that. Put the owner last: kawan saya = my friend.
To say “This is my friend” in Malay: Ini kawan saya (EE-nee KAH-wahn SAH-yah). Built from ini = this; kawan = friend; saya = my.
To say “Do you have children?” in Malay: Ada anak? (AH-dah AH-nahk). Built from ada = do you have; anak = child / children.
Time, days & weather
Key pieces: hari ini · esok · cuaca · hujan · panas
Today is hari ini , tomorrow is esok , yesterday is semalam .
- hari ini (HAH-ree EE-nee) — today
- esok (eh-SOHK) — tomorrow
- semalam (suh-MAH-lahm) — yesterday
- Isnin (EES-neen) — Monday
- Ahad (AH-had) — Sunday
- cuaca (CHOO-ah-chah) — weather
To say “See you tomorrow” in Malay: Jumpa esok (JOOM-pah eh-SOHK). Built from jumpa = meet / see; esok = tomorrow.
Ask about the weather with cuaca . It is hot = panas , it is raining = hujan , cold = sejuk .
To say “It's hot today” in Malay: Hari ini panas (HAH-ree EE-nee PAH-nahs). Built from hari ini = today; panas = hot.
To say “It's raining” in Malay: Hujan (HOO-jahn). Built from hujan = rain.
Small talk & your name
Key pieces: nama saya · apa nama · selamat berkenalan
Introduce yourself: Nama saya… — my name is…. Nama = name.
To say “My name is Alex” in Malay: Nama saya Alex (NAH-mah SAH-yah Alex). Built from nama = name; saya = my; Alex = your name.
To ask someone's name: Apa nama anda? . Anda is the polite word for "you".
To say “What's your name?” in Malay: Apa nama anda? (AH-pah NAH-mah AHN-dah). Built from apa = what; nama = name; anda = you.
To say where you come from: Saya dari… — I'm from…. And "nice to meet you" is Selamat berkenalan .
To say “I'm from __COUNTRY__” in Malay: Saya dari __COUNTRY__ (SAH-yah DAH-ree __COUNTRY__). Built from saya = I; dari = from; __COUNTRY__ = your country.
To say “Pleased to meet you” in Malay: Selamat berkenalan (suh-LAH-maht buhr-kuh-NAH-lahn). Built from selamat = peace / welcome; berkenalan = to get acquainted.
Emergency & health
Key pieces: tolong · sakit · doktor · tidak faham
The most important word if you need help: tolong! — help! It is the same word as "please".
- Tolong! (TOH-long) — Help!
- sakit (SAH-keet) — sick / pain
- doktor (DOHK-tor) — doctor Memory hook: ≈ English "doctor".
- hospital (hos-pee-TAHL) — hospital Memory hook: ≈ English "hospital".
- polis (POH-lees) — police Memory hook: ≈ English "police".
- Saya tidak faham (SAH-yah TEE-dak FAH-hahm) — I don't understand
To say “Help!” in Malay: Tolong! (TOH-long). Built from tolong = help.
To say “I'm sick” in Malay: Saya sakit (SAH-yah SAH-keet). Built from saya = I; sakit = sick.
If you need a doctor: Saya perlukan doktor . And Saya tidak faham means you don't understand.
To say “Where is the hospital?” in Malay: Di mana hospital? (dee MAH-nah hos-pee-TAHL). Built from di mana = where is; hospital = the hospital.
To say “I need a doctor” in Malay: Saya perlukan doktor (SAH-yah puhr-LOO-kahn DOHK-tor). Built from saya = I; perlukan = need; doktor = doctor. doktor ≈ English "doctor".
Tying it together
Key pieces: a capstone scene — greetings, wants, places
Great — you've built a real toolbox. This capstone uses only words you've met. Build each line yourself before revealing.
To say “Hello, how are you?” in Malay: Hai, apa khabar? (hai, AH-pah KAH-bar). Built from hai = hello; apa khabar = how are you?.
To say “I want chicken rice and water” in Malay: Saya mahu nasi ayam dan air (SAH-yah MAH-hoo NAH-see AH-yahm dahn AH-eer). Built from saya mahu = I want; nasi ayam = chicken rice; dan = and; air = water.
To say “Where is the station?” in Malay: Di mana stesen? (dee MAH-nah STAY-sen). Built from di mana = where is; stesen = the station. stesen ≈ English "station".
To say “How much is it?” in Malay: Berapa harganya? (buh-RAH-pah HAR-gah-nyah). Built from berapa = how much; harganya = its price.
Airport & tickets
Key pieces: lapangan terbang · pasport · tiket · pintu
You have landed. The building is the lapangan terbang . Your document is a pasport .
- lapangan terbang (lah-PAHNG-ahn tuhr-BAHNG) — airport
- pasport (PAHS-port) — passport
- tiket (TEE-keht) — ticket
- pintu (PIN-too) — gate / door
To say “Where is the airport?” in Malay: Di mana lapangan terbang? (dee MAH-nah lah-PAHNG-ahn tuhr-BAHNG). Built from di mana = where is; lapangan terbang = airport.
To say “Here is my passport” in Malay: Ini pasport saya (EE-nee PAHS-port SAH-yah). Built from ini = this; pasport = passport; saya = my.
To say “A ticket, please” in Malay: Tiket, tolong (TEE-keht, TOH-long). Built from tiket = ticket; tolong = please.
To say “Where is the gate?” in Malay: Di mana pintu? (dee MAH-nah PIN-too). Built from di mana = where is; pintu = gate.
The taxi
Key pieces: teksi · pergi · hotel · berhenti
The driver is waiting. teksi is the everyday word. Tell them saya mahu pergi ke hotel .
- teksi (TEK-see) — taxi
- pemandu (puh-MAHN-doo) — driver
- saya mahu pergi (SAH-yah MAH-hoo puhr-GEE) — I want to go
- berhenti di sini (buhr-HUN-tee dee SEE-nee) — stop here
To say “Taxi, please” in Malay: Teksi, tolong (TEK-see, TOH-long). Built from teksi = taxi; tolong = please.
To say “I want to go to the hotel” in Malay: Saya mahu pergi ke hotel (SAH-yah MAH-hoo puhr-GEE kuh ho-TEL). Built from saya mahu = I want; pergi ke = to go to; hotel = hotel.
To say “Stop here, please” in Malay: Berhenti di sini, tolong (buhr-HUN-tee dee SEE-nee, TOH-long). Built from berhenti = stop; di sini = here; tolong = please.
To say “How much is it?” in Malay: Berapa harganya? (buh-RAH-pah HAR-gah-nyah). Built from berapa = how much; harganya = its price.
The hotel
Key pieces: tempahan · bilik · kunci · malam
At the desk: saya ada tempahan — I have a reservation.
- hotel (ho-TEL) — hotel
- tempahan (tuhm-PAH-han) — reservation
- bilik (BEE-lik) — room
- kunci (KOON-chee) — key
- satu malam (SAH-too MAH-lahm) — one night
To say “I have a reservation” in Malay: Saya ada tempahan (SAH-yah AH-dah tuhm-PAH-han). Built from saya ada = I have; tempahan = reservation.
To say “A room for one night, please” in Malay: Bilik satu malam, tolong (BEE-lik SAH-too MAH-lahm, TOH-long). Built from bilik = room; satu malam = one night; tolong = please.
To say “The key, please” in Malay: Kunci, tolong (KOON-chee, TOH-long). Built from kunci = key; tolong = please.
To say “Where is my room?” in Malay: Di mana bilik saya? (dee MAH-nah BEE-lik SAH-yah). Built from di mana = where is; bilik saya = my room.
Ask for help
Key pieces: tidak faham · perlahan · Inggeris
When Malay is too fast: tolong cakap perlahan-lahan — please speak slowly.
- perlahan-lahan (puhr-LAH-han LAH-han) — slowly
- sekali lagi (suh-KAH-lee LAH-gee) — again
- bahasa Inggeris (bah-HAH-sah ing-guh-REES) — English
- boleh tolong? (BOH-leh TOH-long) — can you help?
To say “I don't understand” in Malay: Saya tidak faham (SAH-yah TEE-dak FAH-hahm). Built from saya = I; tidak = not; faham = understand.
To say “Speak slowly, please” in Malay: Tolong cakap perlahan-lahan (TOH-long CHAH-kahp puhr-LAH-han LAH-han). Built from tolong = please; cakap = speak; perlahan-lahan = slowly.
To say “Can you help me?” in Malay: Boleh tolong saya? (BOH-leh TOH-long SAH-yah). Built from boleh = can; tolong = help; saya = me.
To say “Do you speak English?” in Malay: Anda cakap bahasa Inggeris? (AHN-dah CHAH-kahp bah-HAH-sah ing-guh-REES). Built from anda = you; cakap = speak; bahasa Inggeris = English.
Culture and etiquette
Teh tarik & the mamak
The mamak is a humble Indian-Muslim eatery, open late into the night. Its star is teh tarik — milk tea "pulled" between two cups for that foam. It's the cheapest, warmest way to meet locals.
Rice is every meal
Malay says "belum makan" (not yet eaten) for "are you hungry?" — because eating is the centre of the day. Nasi lemak, coconut rice with sambal, is the beloved national dish.
Selamat greets everything
Selamat means safe/peace, and it wraps almost every greeting: selamat pagi, selamat petang, selamat malam, selamat tinggal (goodbye), selamat makan (enjoy your meal). One word unlocks them all.
You, politely
Malay has layers of "you". Saya is the safe, courteous word for "I"; awak is friendly; aku is very casual. Using saya shows respect and is never wrong for a beginner.
One language, many countries
Bahasa Melayu and Bahasa Indonesia are essentially the same language. Learn Malay here and you can be understood in Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei and Singapore — a huge return for one language.
Shares faith, shares etiquette
Malaysia is majority Muslim yet deeply multicultural. Take off your shoes in homes and mosques, use your right hand to eat and pass things, and dress modestly at places of worship.
Example dialogues
At a mamak café
You: Selamat pagi! Satu teh tarik, satu roti canai. (suh-LAH-maht PAH-gee, SAH-too teh TAH-reek, SAH-too ROH-tee CHAH-nai) — Good morning! One pulled tea, one flatbread.
Waiter: Makan di sini atau bungkus? (MAH-kahn dee SEE-nee AH-tow BOONG-koos) — Eat here or take away?
You: Di sini, terima kasih. (dee SEE-nee, tuh-REE-mah KAH-seh) — Here, thanks.
Waiter: Semuanya tiga ringgit. (suh-MOO-nyah TEE-gah RING-git) — All together, three ringgit.
You: Sedap! Terima kasih! (suh-DAHP, tuh-REE-mah KAH-seh) — Delicious! Thank you!
On the bus
You: Maaf, di mana stesen bas? (MAH-af, dee MAH-nah STAY-sen bahs) — Excuse me, where is the bus station?
Local: Terus dan belok kiri. (tuh-ROOS dahn buh-LOWK KEE-ree) — Go straight, then turn left.
You: Berapa harga tiket ke bandar? (buh-RAH-pah HAR-gah TEE-keht kuh BAHN-dar) — How much is a ticket to town?
Ticket: Tiga ringgit. Bas ini ke bandar. (TEE-gah RING-git, bahs EE-nee kuh BAHN-dar) — Three ringgit. This bus goes to town.
At a restaurant
Waiter: Selamat datang! Meja untuk dua? (suh-LAH-maht DAH-tang, MAY-jah OON-too DOO-ah) — Welcome! A table for two?
You: Ya, terima kasih. (yah, tuh-REE-mah KAH-seh) — Yes, thank you.
You: Saya mahu nasi ayam dan teh tarik. (SAH-yah MAH-hoo NAH-see AH-yahm dahn teh TAH-reek) — I'd like chicken rice and pulled tea.
Waiter: Baik. Selamat makan! (bah-EEK, suh-LAH-maht MAH-kahn) — OK. Enjoy your meal!
You: Terima kasih. Boleh saya minta bil? (tuh-REE-mah KAH-seh, BOH-leh SAH-yah MIN-tah bil) — Thank you. Can I have the bill?
Written by the LanguagePath editorial team from our own course material. Pronunciation guides are approximate English respellings; tap any phrase in the app above to hear it. Native-speaker review of every course is ongoing — tell us if you spot an error.