langkawi magazine

Culture SECTION

Learning Bahasa Malaysia

Our national language is called Bahasa Malaysia. It has a very simple grammatical structure and is very easy to learn. Words are pronounced as they are written - you can use the following basic guide:
a sounds like "aaa" as in UGLY

e sounds like the "e" in BERT

i sounds like "ee" as in GREET

o sounds like the "o" in OK

u sounds like "oo" as in BOOT

sy sounds like "sh" as in SHOOT

c sounds like "ch" as in CHAIN
Basic Words and Phrases
Yes - ya

No - tidak

Thank you - terima kasih

Thank you very much - terima kasih banyak-banyak

You're welcome - sama-sama

Please - tolong

Excuse me - minta maaf

Goodbye - selamat tinggal

See you again - jumpa lagi

Good morning - selamat pagi

Good afternoon - selamat tengahari

Good evening - selamat petang

Good night - selamat malam

Welcome - Selamat datang

I do not understand - saya tidak faham

How do you say this in [English]? - bagaimana untuk cakap ini dalam [bahasa malaysia]?

Do you speak ... - Adakah anda bertutur...

English - Bahasa Inggeris

French - Bahasa Perancis

German - Bahasa Jerman

Spanish - Bahasa Sepanyol

Chinese - Bahasa Cina

I - Saya

We - Kami

You (singular) - anda / awak / kamu

You (plural) - kamu semua

They - mereka

What is your name? - Apa nama anda?

How are you? - Apa khabar?

I'm fine - baik

I'm not so well - tidak baik

Wife - isteri

Husband - suami

Daughter - anak perempuan

Son - anak lelaki

Mother - ibu / emak

Father - bapa / ayah

Friend - kawan

Where is the bathroom/toilet? - Tandas di mana?

Want - nak

Need - perlu
Shopping and Food
How much does this cost? - Berapakah harga ini?What is this? - Apakah benda ini?I'll buy it - Saya akan membelinyaI would like to buy ... - Saya hendak beli ... I don't want. - Saya tidak mahu.Do you have ... - Anda ada ...Do you accept credit cards? - Adakah anda menerima kad kredit?Open - bukaClosed - tutupPostcard - poskadStamps - setem Beautiful - CantikLike - SukaA little - sedikitA lot - banyakThis - IniThat - ItuAll - semuaEat - MakanDrink - MinumHungry - LaparFull - KenyangThirsty - DahagaBreakfast - sarapan pagi Lunch - Makan tengahariDinner - Makan malamVegetarian - Makanan vegetarian / makanan sayur- sayuranPlease bring the bill - Tolong bawakan bilBread - rotiBeverage - minumanCoffee - kopiTea - tehJuice - jusWater - airBeer - birSalt - garamPepper - serbuk ladaMeat - dagingBeef - daging lembuPork - daging babiFish - ikanChicken - ayamVegetable - sayur, sayuranFruit - buah, buah-buahan Potato - ubi kentang Salad - salad Dessert - manisan Ice cream - ais krim