Halo
'Hello' in Malay
Photo by Chander Mohan
Language
Malay
Bahasa Melayu, or Malay, is an Austronesian language spoken by over 77 million people, primarily in Malaysia, Indonesia (dialect), Brunei, Singapore, and southern Thailand. It uses the Latin alphabet (Rumi) in Malaysia and Brunei, though the Arabic-based Jawi script is also used in some contexts. Known for its straightforward grammar, Malay lacks complex verb conjugations and has a simple plural system (often reduplication). Its vocabulary is enriched by loanwords from Arabic, Sanskrit, Persian, Portuguese, Dutch, and English due to trade and colonial history. As the official language of Malaysia and Brunei, and a national language in Singapore, it plays a key role in Southeast Asian culture and communication.
Flashcards
penting
important
Of great significance or value.
bisa
can
To be able to; have the ability to.
lihat
see
To perceive with the eyes; to notice.
tapak
site
The place where something is, was, or will be located.
Stories
The Kitten from the Surau
A child hears a kitten after Maghrib at a neighborhood surau, takes it home with their mother, cares for it, visits a...
Elementary
12 sentences
A Plant for the Housewarming
In rainy Shah Alam, a young woman searches a roadside plant nursery for a thoughtful gift for her boss’s housewarming...
Intermediate
12 sentences
Bus Stop in the Rain
At a small bus stop in the rain, a local meets a woman from South Korea looking for the National Museum. They share h...
Beginner
14 sentences
The Lost Wallet at the Morning Market
Amir loses his wallet after shopping at a busy morning market with his younger sibling and rushes back to find it. A ...
Elementary
13 sentences
Agents
Malay
Aisha
Meeting clients at Petronas Towers
Female
36
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Businesswoman
Sociable
shopping, cooking, traveling
Malay
Rahman
Teaching Malay phrases in Kuala Lumpur
Male
32
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Language teacher
Approachable
cooking, hiking, photography
Malay
Farah
Studying Malay literature
Female
22
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Student
Friendly
cooking, reading, biking
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