Malay Basics and Pronunciation
Malay (Bahasa Melayu) is a straightforward language for beginners. Word order is usually Subject–Verb–Object: Saya makan nasi (I eat rice). Verbs don’t change with person or tense; time words like semalam (yesterday) or nanti (later) do the job. Plurals are often clear from context.
Pronunciation is mostly phonetic, so what you see is what you say. Keep vowels short and clean, speak evenly, and you’ll be understood. Start by hearing native audio and recording yourself to match rhythm and stress.
- c = “ch”: cakap (to speak)
- r = light tap/roll
- sy = “sh”: syarat (condition)
- ng as in bunga (flower)
- Final k is a soft stop: baik
Essential Phrases to Speak Today
Learn short, high-frequency lines you’ll use every day. Practice out loud, then mix and match with names, places, and times.
Tip: Keep a one-page PDF phrase sheet on your phone for quick review.
- Hello — Hai
- Good morning — Selamat pagi
- How are you? — Apa khabar?
- I am fine — Khabar baik
- My name is… — Nama saya…
- I am from… — Saya dari…
- Please — Tolong
- Thank you — Terima kasih
- Sorry — Maaf
- Do you speak English? — Awak boleh cakap Inggeris?
Numbers, Time, and Days
Numbers unlock prices, times, and addresses. Learn 1–10 first, then jump to 20, 50, 100. Ask time with pukul, and talk about plans using the days of the week.
Practice by reading shop prices and making mini schedules: “Pukul lapan, Isnin, kelas.”
- 1 — satu
- 2 — dua
- 3 — tiga
- 4 — empat
- 5 — lima
- 6 — enam
- 7 — tujuh
- 8 — lapan
- 9 — sembilan
- 10 — sepuluh
- Monday — Isnin
- Tuesday — Selasa
- Wednesday — Rabu
- Thursday — Khamis
- Friday — Jumaat
- Saturday — Sabtu
- Sunday — Ahad
- What time is it? — Pukul berapa?
- It’s two o’clock — Pukul dua
7-Day Beginner Study Plan (Free)
Spend 20–30 minutes daily. Stay consistent, speak out loud, and write a tiny PDF cheat sheet you can review anywhere.
- Day 1: Master sounds, greetings, and self-intro; make 10 flashcards.
- Day 2: Numbers 1–20; introduce yourself aloud; record and compare.
- Day 3: Polite phrases and questions; 10-minute shadowing video online.
- Day 4: Days/time; ask and answer schedule; short mini-dialogue.
- Day 5: Travel words and directions; 5-minute listening, repeat thrice.
- Day 6: Food ordering lines; draft a one-page PDF phrase sheet.
- Day 7: Review set; 10-minute chat or monologue; plan next week.
Tools and Free Resources (Online and PDF)
You can learn Malay free with smart, simple tools. Focus on input you understand, short daily speaking, and quick reviews. Save notes as a printable PDF for low-friction practice.
Use the mix below to cover listening, reading, and speaking without paying a cent.
- Open-course pages (gov/university); search: "Bahasa Melayu A1 pdf".
- YouTube playlists: “Malay for beginners” with slow, clear speech.
- Free Malay–English online dictionaries for quick lookups (e.g., makan).
- Flashcard decks and printable PDF phrase sheets you update weekly.
- Short news clips or radio with transcripts (berita ringkas).
- Language exchange groups/sites for beginner speaking practice.
FAQ
- Is Malay hard for English speakers?
- Malay is friendly for beginners: simple grammar, no verb conjugations, and mostly phonetic spelling. With 30 minutes daily, many learners reach A1–A2 in a few weeks to a few months.
- How do I say the days of the week in Malay?
- Isnin (Monday), Selasa (Tuesday), Rabu (Wednesday), Khamis (Thursday), Jumaat (Friday), Sabtu (Saturday), Ahad (Sunday). Practice by saying your weekly plan out loud using pukul for time.
- Can I learn Malay free online?
- Yes. Use free online courses, YouTube lessons, podcasts with transcripts, dictionaries, and community groups. Save notes and a phrase list as a small PDF for quick review on your phone.
- Should I learn Malay or Indonesian first?
- They are closely related and widely mutually intelligible. Choose based on your target country or community. Start with one, then learn key differences; switching later is usually easy.
- How long until I can speak simple Malay?
- With consistent daily practice, many beginners can hold short exchanges (greetings, numbers, ordering) in 4–6 weeks. For smoother small talk, plan 2–3 months of steady, focused study.