Blue Jellyfish Press. Learn Malay. Bahasa Melayu. Malaysian. Free learning page. The bare necessities, essential phrases, minimum. Beginners. For travellers. For tourists.

Essential Malay Phrases
Sometimes you don't have time to learn long lists of words and phrases.
All you want to know are the bare essentials for communicating to get
what you need, or where you need to go.
Here are the bare minimum of Malay words and phrases you need
to know to survive.
Learn the Top 10 Phrases if you only have time for the barest minimum.
If you need or want more, then take a look at the Top 20 Phrases,
Top 30 Phrases and the Extra Phrases.

Here are ten easy phrases to get you started ...
The Top 10 ...

Helo.
Hello.
Selamat tinggal. (by the person leaving)
Selamat jalan. (by the person staying)
Goodbye.
Bolehkah anda berbahasa Inggeris?
Do you speak English?
Saya tidak faham.
I don't understand.
Sedikit saja.
A little.
Ya. Tidak.
Yes. No.
Berapa harganya?
How much is it?
Terlalu mahal. Baiklah.
Too expensive. OK.
Tolong.
Please.
Terima kasih (banyak).
Thank you (very much).

Here are ten more phrases that will help you
make new friends and ask for directions.
The Top 20 ...

Siapa nama anda?
What is your name?
Nama saya ...
My name is ...
Apa khabar?
How are you?
Khabar baik. Anda pula?
Fine. And you?
... di mana?
Where is ...?
Tandas di mana? Lelaki/Perempuan
Where is the toilet? Men/Women
(Minta) ma'af.
Sorry. Excuse me.
Tiada masalah.
No problem.
Saya mahu ...
I want ...
Saya tidak mahu ...
I don't want ...

Here are another ten phrases to help you make a
little more conversation and to get around.
The Top 30 ...

Anda berasal dari mana?
Where are you from?
Saya berasal dari Australia.*
I am from Australia.
Minta bonnya.
The bill, please.
Saya tersesat.
I am lost.
Berhentilah! Tunggulah!
Stop! Wait!
Di sini, di situ, di sana.
Here, there, over there.
Teksi. Hotel. Lapangan terbang. Stesen.
Taxi. Hotel. Airport. Station.
Saya suka ...
I like ...
Saya tidak suka ...
I don't like ...
satu, dua, tiga, empat, lima.
one, two , three, four, five.
enam, setujuh, lapan, sembilan, sepuluh.
six, seven, eight, nine, ten.
*Or choose your country:
Amerika - America
Kanada - Canada
England - England
Ireland - Ireland
New Zealand - New Zealand

Here are some extra words and phrases you might find useful,
especially if you have dietary needs or allergies.
Useful extras ...

Selamat minum!
Cheers!
baik / buruk
good / bad
besar / kecil
big / small
dekat / jauh
near / far
kurang / lebih
less / more
yang lain / cukup
another / enough
Saya seorang vegetarian.
I am vegetarian.
Saya tidak makan daging.
I don't eat meat.
... ayam.
... chicken.
... ikan.
... fish.
Saya alergi terhadap kacang.
I am allergic to nuts.
... kacang tanah.
... peanuts.
... ikan.
... fish.
... makanan laut.
... seafood.
... telur.
... eggs.