Q&A for How to Get Started Learning Malay Language

Return to Full Article

Coming soon

Add New Question

Question

What is the meaning of "Melakukan apa"?

Community Answer

"Melakukan apa" means, "Doing what?" If you want to ask, "What are you doing?", it would be "Kamu (Formal)/"Engkau/Kau" (Informal) tengah buat apa?"

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 10 Helpful 44
Question

How do I write Malay stories well?

Community Answer

Practice the language frequently and read a lot of Malay books and articles to get a feel for the language.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 13 Helpful 46
Question

How can I learn about tense and parts of speech?

Community Answer

In Malay there are no past, present or future tenses like there are in English. Instead, words are added on to verbs to show whether something is happening, has happened or is going to happen. Using the verb 'makan', which means 'eat', as an example, you can add on the words 'sudah', 'sedang' and 'akan' to describe your actions. Saya sudah makan - I already ate. Saya akan makan - I will eat. Saya sedang makan - I'm eating.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 4 Helpful 21
Question

What does "sakit dan cinta" mean?

Community Answer

"Sakit" means "hurt, feeling pain" or "sick, being ill" and "cinta" means "love." So "lovesick" would be a pretty apt translation.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 4 Helpful 12
Question

What is 'to' in Malay?

Community Answer

Ke. For example, going to is pergi ke. It can also be Untuk, etc. To you is Untuk kamu.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 1 Helpful 9
Question

Is there an easier way to remember Imbuhan?

Community Answer

Suffixes are easy enough to remember, but the spelling for the prefixes are harder. Make a list of the spelling rules for Malay prefixes and keep practising. Eventually, you'll be able to remember them off by heart.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 2 Helpful 5
Question

How do I do an essay in Malay?

Janice

Community Answer

It depends on your title. But, it must have at least 5 "Perenggan"(paragraph) and each paragraph must contain 3-5 sentences. If you want to score high marks for your essay, then you should use idioms and proverbs. They will give you high marks. Here are some: Bagai Aur Dengan Tebing - Helping each other (Tolong-menolong).

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 0 Helpful 2
Question

How to say “My birthday is on 30th May 1999”?

Community Answer

You would say: Hari jadi saya adalah pada tiga-puluh (30th) Mei (May) Satu sembilan sembilan sembilan (1999).

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 0 Helpful 3