Language Primer:
Malay
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, we compiled the list 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.)
It is thus:
English Malay
Basics Asas
Hello Hello / Hai
How are you? Apa kabar?
Fine Saya sihat
Sorry / Excuse me Maaf
Thank you Terima kasih
Please Tolonglah
You’re welcome Sama sama
Yes Ya
No Tidak
Goodbye Selamat tinggal / Babai
Good morning Selamat pagi
Good afternoon Selamat tengahari
Good evening Selamat petang
What’s your name? Siapa nama awak?
My name is (Thomm) Nama saya (Thomm)
I’m from (Dili) Saya dari (Dili)
What’s the score? Berapa markah
I like your nose Saya suka hidung awak
Directions Arah
Where are you going? Nak pergi mana?
I don’t know Saya tidak tahu
I want to go to… Saya nak pergi ke
Where is (the temple)? Mana (kuil)?
(Over) there Di sana
(Over) here Di sini
Stop Berhenti
Turn around Pusing balik
Straight on Terus
Left Kiri
Right Kanan
Behind Belakang
In front of Di hadapan
In between Di antara
How far? Berapa sejauh?
How long? Berapa lama?
Airport Lapanagan terbang
Hotel Hotel
Restaurant Restoran
Bar Bar
Temple Kuil
Bank Bank
Cinema Pawagam
Shopping / Transactions Membeli-belah / Urus niaga
How much? Berapa harga?
How many? Berapa ramai?
Cheap Murah
Expensive Mahal
Very (cheap) Sangat (murah)
Do you have (a room)? Adakah anda mempunyai (bilik)?
I want / would like (a room), please Saya nak bilik, tolong
Food / Drink / Miscellaneous Makanan / Minuman / Pelbagai
Eat / Drink Makan / Minum
Chicken Ayam
Fish Ikan
Rice Nasi
Noodles Mie
Soup Sup
Milk Susu
Coffee Kopi
Sugar Gula
Salt Garam
Water Air
Beer Bir
Fruit Buah
Vegetables Sayur
Cigarettes Rokok
Lighter Pemetik api rokok
(A) room Bilik
Ticket Tiket
Time Masa
Now Sekarang
Later Nanti
Before Sebelum
After Selepas
Morning Pagi
Afternoon Tengahari
Evening Petang
Night Malam
What time? Pukul berapa?
What is the time? Apa masa?
Minute Minit
Hour Jam
Week Minggu
Month Bulan
Year Tuhan
Day Hari
Today Hari ini
Yesterday Semalam
Tomorrow Esok
This (week) (Minggu) ini
Last (week) (Minggu) lepas
Next (week) (Minggu) depan
Weekend Hujung minggu
Someday Suatu hari nanti
Monday Isnin
Tuesday Selasa
Wednesday Rabu
Thursday Khamis
Friday Jumaat
Saturday Sabtu
Sunday Ahad
Rainy season Musim hujan
Dry season Musim kemerau
Sunrise Matahari terbit
Sunset Matahari terbenam
Numbers Nombor
0 Sifar
1 Satu
2 Dua
3 Tiga
4 Empat
5 Lima
6 Enam
7 Tujuh
8 Lapan
9 Sembilan
10 Sepuluh
11 Sebelas
12 Dua belas
13 Tiga belas
14 Empat belas
15 Lima belas
16 Enam belas
17 Tujuh belas
18 Lapan belas
19 Sembilan belas
20 Dua puluh
30 Tiga puluh
40 Empat puluh
50 Lima puluh
60 Enam puluh
70 Tujuh puluh
80 Lapan puluh
90 Sembilan puluh
100 Seratus
Hundred Ratus
Thousand Ribu
Million Juta
How old are you? Berapa umur awak?
I’m (30) years old Saya berumur (tiga puluh) tahun
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