A many-named language that crops up in many corners of Southeast Asia.
Malay enjoys numerous sobriquets: Bahasa Malaysia; Bahasa Melayu; Bahasa Kebangsaan (national language) and so forth. All centre upon the same thing: Malay is the national language of Malaysia and is spoken officially in Indonesia, Singapore and Brunei, while in Timor-Leste and Thailand, it enjoys something of an unofficial status. So similar is Malay to Bahasa Indonesia that speakers of either language can often understand one another.
Read more: Escape Dili at Watabo’o Beach.
(Language Editor: As always with these guides, this list was compiled from wandering the streets of the host country. Thus, it is most likely incomplete, imperfect and strewn with errors; it is, however, raw and presented as-is. Only the foolhardy should consider it gospel.)
Excuse me (sorry) – Maaf
Hello – Hello / Hai
How are you? – Apa kabar?
I’m fine – Saya baik
Thank you – Terima kasih
Please – Tolong
You’re welcome – Sama-sama
Goodbye – Selamat tinggal / Babai
Good morning – Selamat pagi
Good afternoon – Selamat tenghari
Good evening – Selamat patang
Good night – Selamat malam
What’s your name? – Siapa name awak?
My name is (Thomm) – Nama saya (Thomm)
I’m from (Dili) – Saya datang (Dili)
Where you go? – Nak pergi mana?
I don’t know – Saya tidak tahu
I go to – Saya pergi ke
Where is (the temple)? – Mana (kuil)?
Over there – Di sana
How far is (the temple)? – Berapa jauh (kuil)?
How long? – Berapa lama?
Airport – Lapangan terbang
Hotel – Hotel
Restaurant – Restoran
Bar – Bar
Temple – Kuil
This is … – Ini …
Cheap – Murah
Expensive – Mahal
Too – Terlalu
Very – Sangat
Do you have …? – Apakah anda mempunyai …?
I want/would like – Saya mahu
Beer – Bir
Water – Air
Cigarettes – Rokok
Lighter – Pemitik api
A room – Bilik
A ticket – Tiket
Food – Makanan
Drink – Minuman
Chicken – Ayam
Fish – Ikan
Rice – Nasi
Noodles – Mi
What’s the score? – Berapa markah?
I like your nose – Saya suka hidung awak