Malay, or Bahasa Melayu, is a major language of the Austronesian family spoken primarily in Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Brunei, and parts of Thailand. It’s known for its practical spelling and rich history. Learning Malay can enhance your experience in these regions, allowing for deeper cultural understanding and communication. This lesson covers essential conversational phrases and questions in Malay, designed to facilitate various social interactions.

Greetings

• Hello/Hi – “Halo” / “Hai”
• Good morning – “Selamat pagi”
• Good afternoon – “Selamat tengah hari”
• Good evening – “Selamat petang”
• Goodbye – “Selamat tinggal” (when you are leaving) / “Selamat jalan” (when someone else is leaving)

Introducing Yourself or Others

• My name is [name]. – “Nama saya [name].”
• This is [name]. – “Ini adalah [name].”
• I am from [country]. – “Saya dari [country].”
• I live in [city/place]. – “Saya tinggal di [city/place].”

Asking for Directions or People

• Where is the [place]? – “Di mana [place]?”
• How do I get to [place]? – “Bagaimana saya bisa pergi ke [place]?”
• Is this the way to [place]? – “Apakah ini jalan ke [place]?”
• Can you show me on the map? – “Bisa tunjukkan pada saya di peta?”

Solving a Misunderstanding

• Sorry, I don’t understand. – “Maaf, saya tidak mengerti.”
• Can you please repeat that? – “Bisa ulangi itu?”
• I mean… – “Maksud saya…”
• What does [word] mean? – “Apa arti dari [word]?”

Farewell Expressions

• See you later – “Jumpa lagi”
• Take care – “Jaga diri”
• Have a good day – “Semoga hari Anda baik”

Travel and Dining

• I would like to book a room. – “Saya ingin memesan kamar.”
• Can I see the menu, please? – “Boleh saya lihat menu?”
• I am vegetarian. – “Saya vegetarian.”
• The bill, please. – “Tolong, minta billnya.”

Shopping

• How much does this cost? – “Berapa harganya ini?”
• Do you have this in another size? – “Apakah Anda punya ini dalam ukuran lain?”
• I’m just looking, thanks. – “Saya hanya melihat-lihat, terima kasih.”
• Can I pay by card? – “Bisa bayar menggunakan kartu?”

Dating and Love

• You look beautiful. (to a woman) / You look handsome. (to a man) – “Kamu cantik.” / “Kamu tampan.”
• I miss you. – “Saya merindukan kamu.”
• I love you. – “Saya cinta kamu.”
• Would you like to go out with me? – “Mau kencan dengan saya?”

Emergencies

• Help! – “Tolong!”
• Call the police! – “Panggil polisi!”
• I need a doctor. – “Saya butuh dokter.”
• Where is the nearest hospital? – “Di mana rumah sakit terdekat?”

These phrases offer a solid foundation for basic communication in Malay. Practice speaking and listening regularly, engage with Malay media, and don’t hesitate to converse with native speakers. Remember, language learning is a journey—embrace mistakes as learning opportunities and continue to explore the rich linguistic and cultural nuances of the Malay language.