coursework in bahasa malaysia

All Language Resources is an independent review site. If you click a product link, we may earn money from a seller at no cost to you. Writing and analyses are author opinions. Learn More

Learn Malay: A One-Stop Guide to Learn Bahasa Melayu For All Levels

Welcome to the Malay archipelago: a region of jam-packed cities and mega-diverse jungles, fast-growing economies and shopkeepers who you’ll call “auntie,” historic temples, soaring skyscrapers, powerful artwork, arcades you could get lost in, restaurants you would happily get lost in, and hundreds of languages and cultures living side-by-side – sometimes with friction, but mostly happily.

Learn Malay with this comprehensive guide and explore history, grammar, vocabulary, resources, tips, and answers to language learning FAQs here. Dive in.

Malay is just two (yes, two!) of these languages. But whether you’re speaking bahasa Melayu or bahasa Indonesia, you’ll find that it unlocks smiles and lets you hold conversations with complete strangers through to friends’ families.

Before you start creating word lists and searching for tutors, let’s take a look at the Malay apps, courses, and textbooks you might like to use, as well as what sets the Malay language apart and how to create your study plan.

About the Malay Language

There were around 200–250 million speakers of Malay in 2009, according to the linguist James T. Collins’ research. And that figure has likely increased over the past 11 years, due to growing population sizes.

Yet if you disregard all the people who speak Malay as a second language, this number drops to just 77 million. And if you then remove Indonesian from the category, and look at just native speakers of bahasa Melayu , you’re left with just 19 million speakers spread across Malaysia, Singapore, and Brunei.

Much like how millions of non-native speakers use English to communicate, people on the Malay peninsula use Malay to communicate with people from other communities and ethnic groups – even when it’s not the first language of anyone in the room.

It’s heavily influenced by Sanskrit and Arabic, while early modern colonialism introduced English and Dutch loanwords. And Tamil and Chinese traders also shaped Bazaar Malay or Baba Malay , a pidgin language that later evolved into modern-day Indonesian.

But wait, why do we keep talking about Indonesians?

Indonesian vs Malay: What’s the Difference?

Modern-day Malay can be separated into two variants: bahasa Melayu and bahasa Indonesia.

Bahasa Melayu is spoken in Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, and to a lesser extent, Indonesia. In Malaysia, it’s called bahasa Malaysia (which is controversial, given that not all Malaysians speak it).

Bahasa Indonesia, on the other hand, is spoken only in Indonesia, where it’s the lingua franca for a country with over 300 ethnic groups and, or so it’s estimated, over 700 languages . That means that Malay Indonesians will speak bahasa Melayu at home but bahasa Indonesia with people from other communities.

Wondering why they all begin with “bahasa?” That’s because it means language.

These two Malay variants are considered mutually intelligible. Yet while most bahasa Indonesia speakers will get the gist of what you’re saying if you speak to them in bahasa Melayu, there are significant differences, especially in the spelling, pronunciation, and loan words.

Rather dangerously, there are also a few false friends, such as percuma , which means “free” in bahasa Melayu but “useless” in bahasa Indonesia. And a handful of R-rated ones could lead to even greater offence than if you were to accidentally describe someone’s generously given free help as useless.

To understand why these two languages are so close and yet so different, we need to look at the region’s colonial history.

For a grand part of their past, Indonesia and Malaysia were in the same empire or even kingdom. The Malacca Sultanate of the 14th to 16th century, for example, straddled the two islands. So too did the 16th–18th-century Aceh Sultanate.

However, as various European empires began colonizing the region, the two islands found themselves divided between different colonial powers: Indonesia ended up under Dutch rule, while what is today Malaysia and Singapore became part of the British Empire – although not until after the British and Dutch had squabbled over who ruled Singapore. Meanwhile, Brunei became a British protectorate in 1888.

The British and Dutch colonizers found themselves ruling over people who not only spoke an unfamiliar language but wrote it with a different script: jawi. In response, they both independently set about finding a way to write Malay with the Latin alphabet. This led to the spelling differences between bahasa Melayu and bahasa Indonesia.

They also imported different loanwords. Christmas, for example, is krismas in bahasa Melayu but Natal in bahasa Indonesia. Money is duit in bahasa Indonesia, from the copper Dutch coin , but wang in bahasa Melayu.

While these variations are equally valid and important, we’ve focused on resources for learning bahasa Melayu. This isn’t to disregard the existence of bahasa Indonesia, but rather a reflection of the differences and the fact that most language learners describe it as Indonesian rather than Malay.

Extract from the Malay-language record of the 1805 sale of an indigenous Batak female slave called Dima to Mr. Peter Clark under British imperialist rule. Public Domain.

Jawi and Rumi: The Two Writing Scripts of Malay

Today, most people write Malay in Rumi, which is the same Latin script we use in English. But in certain places, especially in Brunei and rural Malaysia, you’ll come across signs saying تريما کاسيه instead of terima kasih, or “thank you.”

Malay was originally written in a variety of scripts. There was Pallava , which originates from Southern India and has since evolved into Khmer, Thai, Lao, and many more Southeast Asian scripts. There was also Devanāgarī , an Indian script that was also used to write Sanskrit, Hindi, Marathia, and more. Kawi and Rencong, both of which originate in Indonesia, were also common.

Yet with the peaceful spread of Islam across the region, these alphabets fell out of fashion and were replaced with Arabic. Over time, a new script, Jawi, developed that included the characters ڽ ڬ ﭪ ڠڠ . These were needed to represent phonemes found in Malay and other Southeast Asian languages.

The earliest discovered evidence of Jawi dates to the beginning of the 14th century, and the writing system is still in use today. It is a co-official script in Brunei, where both Malay and English are official languages.

There is also a government drive to increase its use across Malaysia. However, not all are in favour of this, especially given Malaysia’s multilingualism and Jawi’s close association with Islam. When the government tried to make studying khat , Jawi calligraphy, mandatory in primary education, it had to back down after fierce opposition – especially among Chinese and Tamil schools.

Meanwhile, in Singapore and Indonesia, the Latin alphabet is the official one.

You won’t need to learn Jawi to communicate in Malay, but you might like to, especially if you plan to live or travel in Brunei or Malaysia. We’ve included resources for how to learn it below, so keep reading.

How Difficult Is Malay?

Relax. Compared to other Southeast Asian languages, Malay is a fairly accessible language. The US Foreign Service Institute considers it one of the 15 easiest languages for English speakers to pick up, putting it roughly in line with German.

Saying it’s like German, however, is a tad misleading: for English speakers, German has a more complex grammar system but similar vocabulary. Malay, however, has a completely different vocabulary but a more straightforward grammar system.

Of course, this is relative and will depend on what you’ve studied before. But let’s look at some characteristics of Malay: like English, there are no noun cases and it’s not a tonal language. Unlike English, the pronunciation is fairly regular.

There is no grammatical gender. You can say “she studies Malay in school,” but neither Malay nor the school is feminine or masculine.

There is normally no copula, i.e. “to be,” something that will seem familiar to Japanese and Russian students. Saya means “I,” pelajar means “student,” and saya pelajar means “I am a student.”

Talking about plural things, e.g. “chairs” rather than “a chair?” You can either keep it ambiguous and use the same word (a chair, kerusi ), specify how many (five chairs, lima kerusi ), or just make it clear that there’s more than one by repeating the word ( kerusi-kerusi ), depending on how precise you want to be. Either way, you won’t need to learn new vocabulary or rules about pluralizing adjectives.

You probably also noticed that “a chair” is two words in English but one in Malay. That’s because there’s no definite or indefinite article (the, a, an). There are demonstrative pronouns (that, this, those, these…) but only two of them, ini and itu .

On the other hand, counting is a little more difficult due to the use of classifiers. Five chairs might be “lima kerusi” but five cats are lima ekor kucing or “five – animal counter – cat” and five oranges are lima biji oren or “five – small, round object counter – orange.” Yet while this might seem novel to begin with, it won’t take long to pick it up.

The verb conjugation is much easier, with the past, present, and future indicated not by changes to the word’s spelling and pronunciation but by adverbs and modal verbs – the equivalent of “will,” “later,” and “already.” Instead of memorizing conjugation tables and irregular verbs, you’ll just need to master a handful of words to begin differentiating between what you did at the weekend and what you’ll do next weekend.

Malay also makes heavy use of affixes, which means you can expand your vocabulary pretty quickly. Plus, it will help you out with your listening and reading: once you’ve learned to recognize the affixes, you won’t have to keep reaching for a dictionary.

For example, a pe or pen prefix turns a verb or noun into a person, e.g. a penjual is a vendor, someone who sells ( jual ) things. Meanwhile, kedai means shop and pekedai is a shopkeeper. Alternatively, combining the prefix “ke” and the suffix “ken” converts nouns into adjectives, and the ter prefix makes an adjective superlative, e.g. termahal means the most expensive ( mahal ).

However, there is one thing that can catch Malay language learners out: the different dialects and slang. In Malaysia alone, there are 137 different languages and 30 native tribes, which results in variations on the standard bahasa Malaysia. Switching between them can add layers of additional meaning.

Don’t worry too much, because you’ll always be understood by native speakers – but as a learner, you might find yourself saying saya tidak faham , “I don’t understand,” when you first meet people from other regions.

Is Malay Easy to Learn?

The best way to learn Malay will depend on you. What are your goals? What do you like to do? How much time do you have?

Once you’ve worked that out, you can start creating a study plan – one that hopefully gives you time to work on reading, writing, speaking, listening, vocabulary, and grammar.

Given the large number of dialects and variants, you’ll also want to decide which type of Malay you’re going to learn. Most apps, courses, and textbooks will teach you standard bahasa Melayu, and for travelers and businesspeople, this might be the best option. However, if you’re planning a move to a specific location, such as Kuala Lumpur, Brunei, or Penang, you might want to also practice with vloggers, podcasts, and language exchanges with people from that area. This will help you get used to the local dialect quicker.

Malay’s accessible grammar system means it won’t take you too long to be able to create your own sentences. Start journaling to expand your vocabulary, improve your word recall, and reinforce the grammatical structures you’re learning.

Memorize vocabulary and affixes with flashcards and quizzes. While there are plenty of word lists online, consider creating additional ones about your interests, work, and experiences. After all, that’s probably what you’ll talk about in the most detail.

Radio, music, podcasts, TV… there are numerous ways to work on your listening. We’ve given a few recommendations in our resource sections, as well as ideas for reading in Malay.

As for speaking, this will be pretty easy if you live in a Malay-speaking area but might be challenging if you’re studying it as a foreign language. Check out our tips for finding online tutors and language exchanges below, and in the worst of cases, record yourself speaking at home. It might not help with your response time, but it will improve your spoken fluency and word recall.

Try to study frequently. A little every day is far more effective than three hours every Sunday.

Above all, have patience with yourself. Learning a language, even one that’s considered relatively easy takes time and can be frustrating. Progress might feel invisible, while it’s easy to forget words you knew last month. Yet as long as you keep studying, you will improve.

And if you ever get too demotivated, just go back to a task you did a few months earlier. You’ll be surprised by how easy it suddenly seems.

Best Way to Learn Malay

Flashcards are a powerful tool for learning Malay vocabulary due to their ability to foster active engagement and efficient memory retention. By prompting learners to actively recall words and concepts, flashcards stimulate the retrieval process, strengthening the connection between the learner and the vocabulary. The repetition and review facilitated by flashcards provide a systematic approach to reinforcing words, moving them from short-term to long-term memory. Their portability allows for convenient on-the-go learning, making the most of spare moments for quick vocabulary review.

Furthermore, flashcards can be personalized to suit individual preferences, incorporating visual cues and examples to enhance understanding. The engagement, versatility, and motivation they provide contribute to a dynamic and effective vocabulary learning experience.

Easiest Way to Learn Malay

The easiest way to learn Malay often involves building user-friendly language apps, such as Duolingo or Memrise, into your routine. These apps offer structured lessons, quizzes, and interactive exercises. Actively engage with native Malay speakers through language exchange programs, either in person or online, to hone your conversational skills and receive real-time feedback.

Immerse yourself in Malay media, exploring movies, TV shows, and music, to familiarize yourself with colloquial expressions and cultural nuances. This multifaceted approach, combining technology, social interaction, and authentic content, ensures a well-rounded and enjoyable learning experience, making the acquisition of Malay more intuitive and effective.

How Long Does it Take to Learn Malay?

On average, it takes 900 hours to learn Malay. So if you’re learning full time (40 hours per week) you can be proficient in as few as 23 weeks. If you’re not looking for fluency, but you’re more concerned about having a conversation, you could achieve that in three months by concentrating on your speaking.

However, learning Malay is less about the number of hours you spend and more about what you do with those hours.

How to Learn Malay Fast

To accelerate your Malay learning, prioritize dedicated study periods where you delve deeply into the language’s intricacies. Leverage language-learning apps, such as Duolingo or Babbel, for interactive exercises that reinforce vocabulary and grammar. Immerse yourself in Malay media, including movies, TV shows, and music, to familiarize yourself with authentic language usage.

Actively engage in language exchange programs, seeking conversations with native Malay speakers to enhance practical communication skills. Consistency is paramount; commit to daily practice sessions. Establish clear learning objectives to guide your progress and expedite your journey toward proficiency in the Malay language.

How to Speak Malay

To speak Malay, start by learning basic phrases and practicing pronunciation. Engage in conversations with native speakers or language exchange partners. Regularly practice speaking Malay aloud, even if you’re initially making mistakes. Malay has a system of 8 different vowel sounds (with each sound having both a long and short form) which can be difficult for learners to get used to and can make speaking intimidating. So when speaking Malay, pay attention to your vowel sounds so you don’t accidentally say “camp” when you mean “you”.

Immersing yourself in Malay-speaking environments or using language apps for interactive exercises can further enhance your speaking skills.

Additional Malay Learning Resources

Consider adding a few more supplementary resources as you learn Malay. Some of these include Malay literature, music, and news.

Malay Textbooks and Reference Books

With its clear explanations, Malay for Everyone is a good base for learning Malay grammar and vocabulary. Every chapter contains exercises, but there are only a few sample dialogues throughout the book.

If you like the Colloquial Malay audio course series in the Podcast section, try pairing it with the Routledge textbook .

Alternatively, Write Malay is dense but has plenty of examples and exercises to work through.

Skip  Teach Yourself Malay: A Complete Course: it’s poorly structured and contains errors, which adds up to a frustrating experience. Meanwhile, you might find Malay Made Easy in a second-hand bookstore. The problem is that many of its editions are filled with incredibly dated language. Want an insight into colonial-era Malaysia? Give it a read. Otherwise, we suggest avoiding this one.

Malay Fiction Books and Poetry

Given the multilingualism of the Malay peninsular, it can sometimes be hard to find modern books that were originally written in Malay rather than English, Chinese, or one of the many other widely spoken languages in the region. Bernice Chauly , for example, is one of Malaysia’s award-winning and most influential contemporary writers, yet even her books and poems about her country are yet to be translated into Malay.

Yet while you have more limited choices, you can still find compelling Malay literature – whether you’re looking for an action-packed page-turner or a poignant novel that will change the way you view the world.

In Singapore, Malay authors often wrote in English to avoid being labeled as Malaysian and so denied their cultural identity . Yet Isa Kamari and Suratman Markasan have earned their place as leaders of the Malay-language Singaporean literary scene.

Although you’ll probably have to read his work in bahasa Indonesia, Pramoedya Ananta Toer is a must-read. He created his most celebrated novels, the Buru Quartet, as a political prisoner, narrating them to his fellow inmates who helped him record the story and smuggle it out. While this series focuses on the Dutch colonization of Indonesia, his books are also praised for their representations of women and Chinese Indonesian people.

Bruneian writers are less well-known, both in and outside of the country . However, the country continues to produce prize-worthy literature in English and Malay. Try Hajah Norsiah binti Haji Abdul Gapar , whose novels Pengabdian and Anji kepada Inah won awards. She also received the S.E.A. Write Award in 2009.

And if you’re looking for Malaysian Malay-language writers, you’ve got several to choose from. Ramlee Awang Murshid is a prolific author whose books have won awards and some have been made into movies. His novels tend to be fantasy, adventure, historical, or some blend of the three, and are often described as “thrilling.”

Emy Roberto ’s novels focus on relationships: what happens when marriages are unhappy, or a pregnancy is unwanted? Her relationship-oriented novellas will teach you plenty of useful, modern vocabulary.

If you’re struggling to buy some of these books from abroad, you can read plenty of Malay Pantun, a traditional poetic form, online. You can find some here . And if poetry’s not to your taste, try reading these children’s books .

Other Resources, from Malay Dictionaries to News Sites

Listening to Malay singers will help you pick up vocabulary. Pop lovers could listen to Siti Nurhaliza, Yuna, and Ning, while Hujan is a popular indie rock band.

Stay up to date on current affairs and improve your Malay vocabulary at the same time by reading the news. For Malaysian news, try Berita Harian , Astro Awani , and Malaysia Kini . Alternatively, if you prefer the radio to a news site, try the All Malaysian Radios FM app.

Most Indonesian news sites are in bahasa Indonesia rather than bahasa Melayu, but the good news is that you have a lot of options. Try Jawa Pos and Kompas , which are some of the largest papers.

Berita Harian is a Malay-language Singaporean news site. For a Bruneian perspective, you’ll want to read Media Permata .

That being said, given the widespread self-censorship, harsh punishments, and generally limited press freedom in Indonesia , Brunei , and Singapore , you might want to combine these sources with international news for a more balanced perspective. ( Malaysia has historically had similarly poor press freedom, but there has been a dramatic decrease in journalist harassment and self-censorship over the past couple of years.)

Of course, with all this immersive reading and listening, you’re bound to come across unfamiliar words. Look them up in MalayCube , a Malay–English dictionary, and thesaurus combined. You can also search for English words in the Cambridge English–Malay Dictionary , but you won’t be able to check the meaning of Malay ones.

Although Malay pronunciation is relatively straightforward, you can also use the pronunciation dictionary Forvo to check how to say specific words.

Just like how there are more Malay speakers than you might think, there are also far more resources available to you. And with its relatively accessible grammar and pronunciation, it’s a rewarding language to study.

So, what are you waiting for? Download some of the apps and podcasts, try out the courses and movies, and begin learning how to speak Malay. Boleh!

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

• Welcome to Universiti Malaya Online Courses
• [email protected]

Learn Bahasa Melayu: Grammatical rules in Malay

Search Courses

Course instructor.

Dr Samsur has Ph.D in Ethnolinguistic. He spent many years in Indigenous Studies but always back to teach Malay Language to Foreigner. Now he is a Senior Lecturer at Universiti Malaya.

Learning a new language can be an exciting and rewarding experience. Whether you are planning to travel to Malaysia, have Malaysian friends, or simply want to expand your linguistic skills, Bahasa Melayu is a great language to learn. While taking formal language classes can be beneficial, self-study is also a viable option, especially with the […]

Self-Study Bahasa Melayu with Tutorials

Learning a new language can be an exciting and rewarding experience. Whether you’re planning a trip to Malaysia, interested in the rich culture of the Malay people, or simply want to expand your linguistic skills, studying Bahasa Melayu can open up a world of opportunities. While traditional language classes and tutors are popular options, self-study […]

Self Study Bahasa Melayu with Tutorials

Learning a new language can be an exciting and rewarding experience. Whether you are planning to travel to Malaysia, have Malaysian friends or family, or simply have an interest in the language, self-studying Bahasa Melayu can be a great way to expand your linguistic skills. In this blog post, we will explore the benefits of […]

Learning a new language can be an exciting and fulfilling experience. Whether you’re planning a trip to Malaysia, have Malaysian friends or family, or simply have an interest in the language, Bahasa Melayu is a great language to learn. While taking formal classes can be helpful, self-study is also a viable option, especially with the […]

Learning a new language can be an exciting and rewarding experience. Whether you are planning to travel to Malaysia, have Malaysian friends, or simply want to expand your language skills, self-studying Bahasa Melayu can be a great option. With the availability of online tutorials, you can now embark on this language journey from the comfort […]

• Career @ ICLS
• Our Credentials
• Event Highlights @ ICLS
• Affiliated Schools
• Subang School
• Online Japanese Class
• Online English Class
• Online Korean Class
• Online Mandarin Class
• Online Bahasa Malaysia Class
• Online European Language Class
• Japanese Physical Class
• English Physical Class
• Korean Physical Class
• Mandarin & Bahasa Malaysia Physical Class
• European Languages Physical Class
• Japanese Course In ICLS
• How To Apply
• Why English in ICLS
• Student Pass Procedure
• Student Pass Facilities
• Accommodation
• Social Activities

On-line Bahasa MaLaysia Class

Classes are taught by experienced and qualified native Bahasa Malaysia teachers!!

ON-LINE BAHASA MALAYSIA PART-TIME CLASS Inquire Now

1) Features

– You can join the class wherever you are; as long as you have an internet connection and a computer or mobile device  – All our native teachers are licensed & experienced. – Focusing on 4 aspects: Listening, Speaking, Reading & Writing in Bahasa Malaysia.  – Designed for working adults or students who are able to attend classes once or twice a week. 

2) Who is this class suitable for? 

– People who want to learn at home from qualified and experienced native teachers. – Those who want to expand vocabulary and learn to use more Bahasa Malaysia expressions.

3) Commencing Date

4) What will it cost?

• Tuition fee = RM 520 [ 10 lessons (2 hours per lesson) ]
• Textbook = RM 35   ( including delivery charge within Peninsular Malaysia )
• Registration fee = RM 50

*SCHEDULES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE*

ON-LINE BAHASA MALAYSIA PRIVATE CLASS Inquire Now

1) Features  

• You can join the class wherever you are; as long as you have an internet connection and a computer or mobile device
• You can learn and practice Bahasa Malaysia conveniently and easily while staying safe at home. 
• Lessons are conducted on a 1 to 1 basis. 
• Lessons are conducted according to the progress and needs.  （eg: Preparation for SKBM) 

2) What are the lesson schedules   *Lesson schedules will be discussed and decided during the registration phase. 

3) What will it cost?  

Tuition Fee:

What You Need To Know

Steps of Registration   1) Complete the  registration form  and send to [email protected] 2) You will be notified when the class is confirmed, and proceed with the payment.  * Payment is only required after the schedule and teacher have been confirmed.  * Lessons will be conducted using the  Zoom  meeting platform. 

Look at our physical classes

Our courses.

Learn more »

• Learn Malay
• Free Lessons

Learn Malay reading, Malay writing and Malay speaking with these free words and sentences about greetings, saying Hello and common phrases. All words and sentences are spoken by real Malay natives and this helps you in learning the correct pronunciation.

Our ten Malay lessons teach you some of the most important Malay words and phrases. We will try to make your learning Malay as easy as possible and give you a lot of resources about Malay.

If you like the lessons, you can subscribe to our free seven days email course which will give you Malay grammar notes, top 1000 Malay words and much more!

Lesson 1: Introduction

Awak apa kabar?

How are you?

Saya baik, terima kasih.

I'm fine, thank you.

Nama saya ialah Tanja.

My name is Tanja.

Bagus sekali dapat berjumpa dengan awak.

Nice to meet you.

Selamat tinggal.

Adakah awak boleh bertutur dalam bahasa Inggeris?

Do you speak English?

Ya, saya boleh bertutur dalam bahasa Inggeris.

Yes, I speak English.

Tidak, saya tidak boleh bertutur dalam bahasa Inggeris.

No, I don't speak English.

How to learn Malay?

• Get a Malay Phrasebook and write simple phrases and words on Flashcards and memorize them
• Study the Malay fundamentals, e.g. classifiers, how to construct questions, pronunciation etc.
• Try and find a good Malay teacher or other person to talk with you or enroll in a Malay language class or visit Malaysia for more immersion
• Use a spaced repetition vocabulary builder to learn Malay words and phrases
• Be aware that there are additional languages spoken in East Malaysia

Check out our comprehensive Malay learning App L-Lingo which contains 105 lessons with grammar notes, thousands of words and high quality audio.

Malay Grammar

Learning the Malay language is fundamentally simple to learn as it is written in the Roman alphabet although traditonally, it was written in "Jawi" writing. The pronunciaton of words in the Malay language is also simple as the alphabets are pronounced just as it would be in English.

Generally, the word order in Malay is similar to word order in an English sentence. Thus, this makes learning Malay very easy. But there are differences as well which will be explained below.

Nouns in Malay

Unlike in English, nouns in Malay are not accompanied by general articles such as "a" , "an" or "the" . These articles do not exist in Malay. However, nouns in Malay are accompanied by classifiers specific for that noun which replaces the function of articles in English. For example, in English, you would say:

- A man – Seorang Lelaki - A ship – Sebuah Kapal

Notice the artcle "a" is used for both the man and the ship. However, this cannot be done in Malay as articles are replaced by classifiers that are designated for different types of nouns. For example, the classifier replacing the article accompanying a human noun would be different from that of an object noun. A classifier replacing the English article for a big object such as a house is different from that of a small object such as a ship.

For better understanding, we shall look at examples from different categories which are humans and objects.

Firstly let us look at the word Bus and how it is said in Malay:

A Bus = Sebuah Bas The Bus = Bas itu This Bus = Bas ini That Bus = Bas itu

Now, let us look at the word Man. In Malay, Lelaki:

Man = Lelaki

A Man = Seorang Lelaki The Man = Lelaki itu This Man = Lelaki ini That Man = Lelaki itu

You will notice that the classifier Seorang was used for Lelaki / Man to replace "a" while Sebuah was used for Kapal / ship for the same purpose.

Malay Classifiers

The common classifiers are listed below:

Orang - is used for people. The word itself means "person, people". ekor - is used for animals. The word itself means "tail". buah - is used for most objects eg. books, tables, cars, houses, schools. The word itself means "fruit". biji - is used for small, round objects such as eggs, sweets and fruits. The word itself means "seed". batang - is used for long, slim items such as pencils, pens, or sticks. keping - is used for a piece/pieces of paper, bread, cake, cheques, photographs. pucuk - is used for letters and arms.

These classifiers are used in place of articles and are placed in front of the noun.

Verbs are used to describe actions of someone or something. In Malay, verbs can take the active or passive form. Active verbs are used to show that the action is being done while passive verbs are used to show that the action has been done.

Active Verbs

In Malay, active verbs are commonly accompanied by the word “sedang”.

“Sedang” carries the meaning of “being in the process of”. For example, “sedang duduk” means “is sitting”

A complete sentence would be: “Lelaki itu sedang duduk” / The man is sitting.

In English, an active verb is accompanied by the suffix -ing. i.e sitting, jumping, running, walking. However, the usage of prefix in Malay depends on the kind of action that is being done.

Generally, for activities that are relatively non-mechanical, and no dynamic forces or action is being done, no prefix or suffix accompanies the root word.

For example: Duduk / Sit Lelaki itu sedang duduk / The man is sitting. Notice that no prefix is added to the root word “duduk”.

For activities that generally is done or exerted onto oneself alone, the prefix “ber” is used.

For example: Diri / Stand Lelaki itu sedang berdiri. / The man is standing.

For activities that generally is done or exerted onto another object or surface, the prefix “me”/”men”/”meng”/ is used.

For example: Lompat / Jump Budak lelaki itu sedang melompat. / The boy is jumping.

Past tense is indicated by the word sudah / telah which bring the meaning of “have been done” or “have taken place”.

As such, the word telah and sudah can be used interchangeably. Let’s look at some examples of the correct usage of telah and sudah:

Kuda itu sudah melompat. The horse jumped.

Kuda itu telah melompat. The horse jumped.

Future Tense

Future tense is indicated by akan / will which is placed in front of the verb.

Kuda itu akan melompat. The horse is going to jump.

Adjectives are used to describe nouns.

Examples of adjectives are: Old = lama (for object) / tua (for living nouns)

A special rule for lama is that it cannot be placed directly after the noun. It must be preceded by the word “sudah” [ already].

Seluar biru itu sudah lama. / The blue pants are old.

New = baru Long = panjang Short = pendek Small = kecil Big = besar

If you like to describe certain things, the adjective normally follows the noun.

You love these Free Lessons – so check out the Free Trial of Online Learning App L-Lingo Malay – with Full-Featured Audi-Visual Goodness and Progress Quizzes!

L-Lingo follows a similar approach like the L-Ceps Personaltrainer but is a full online web application - it just runs in your browser! Give it a try and head over to Language Learning Software L-Lingo Malay for some free lessons.

• Words from the Dean
• Malay Language Section
• English Language Section
• Foreign Language Section
• Administration

Malay Language

• English Language
• Foreign Languages
• Senarai Ketua Peringkat Sem.II 2023/2024
• Tutorial Rooms
• Seminar Room
• LAB RESERVATION
• Location Map
• Borang Tempahan Bilik & Makmal
• English Language Graduation Requirement

School of Languages Literacies & Translation  l  Engineering Campus

(A) Bahasa Melayu Courses

1. LKM 100/2 - Bahasa Melayu I 

2. LKM 400/2 - Bahasa Melayu IV

Entry Requirements

Foreign students who take Bachelor’s degrees in Arts are required to take and pass Intensive Malay Language courses before they commence their Bachelor’s degree programme.

Note: To obtain credit units for Bahasa Melayu courses, a minimum grade of a “C” is required. 

(B) Malaysian Undergraduate Students' Requirements

Bahasa Melayu Courses For Malaysians Students

LKM 400/2 - Bahasa Melayu IV 

All Malaysian students must take and pass LKM 400/2 with the minimum of a Grade C in order to graduate.

 Note:

All students must obtain credit grades in the Bahasa Melayu subject at SPM/SPVM or possess Subsidiary/Principal grades at STPM level.

(C) Foreign Students Requirements

(i) Malay Language Course (2 credits)

All international students are required to take and pass the Malay Language course. In order to graduate, the minimum passing grade required is Grade C. Malay Language course requirements by academic program are as follows:

a) International students pursuing Bachelor’s Degree in Arts (program with Malay Language as the medium of instruction) are required to take the following courses:

b) International students pursuing Bachelor’s Degree in Arts (program with English Language as the medium of instruction) are required to take the following course:

c) International students pursuing Bachelor’s Degrees in Science and Technology are required to take the following course:

(ii) Graduate students

• All foreign graduate students are required to take and pass the LKM111 course as graduation requirements.

This course is offered online every  semester.

(iii) Non-graduating students

LKM 100, LKM111, LKM200 and LKM300 courses are offered to non-graduating foreign students interested to learn Malay language.

(D) Diploma Nursing Students' Requirements

Bahasa Melayu Courses For Diploma Nursing

LKM 311 - BAHASA MELAYU PERTENGAHAN (INTERMEDIATE MALAY LANGUAGE)

All Diploma Nursing students must take and pass LKM 311/2 with the minimum  a Grade C in order to graduate.

(E) Bahasa Melayu Course For Staff

(i) LKM 003/2 - Bahasa Melayu Peringkat Maju (Advanced Bahasa Melayu)

This course is to improve the proficiency in Bahasa Melayu of academic staff so that they can conduct lectures as well as write articles and books in Bahasa Melayu effectively. Staff should acquire sufficient language proficiency in speaking, writing and conducting lectures in order to pass this course.

This course consists of three components: writing, oral and lecture-based language performance tests. The writing component comprises various types of essay writing, translation (translating a wide range of texts from English into Malay) and grammar. The oral component and the lecture-based language performance test focus on language use with emphasis on grammar and pronunciation.

(ii) LKM 100 - Bahasa Melayu I, LKM 111 - Budaya Malaysia dan Bahasa Melayu, LKM 200 – Bahasa Melayu II and LKM 300 - Bahasa Melayu III are also offered to foreign academic staff.

LKM 100, LKM111, LKM 200 and LKM 300 courses are offered to non-graduating foreign students interested to learn Malay language.

(F) Micro-credential Course for Bahasa Melayu

The School of Languages, Literacies and Translation recently designed a micro-credential course for those who are interested to improve their Malay language grammar via short, interactive lessons. The course is available for USM students, USM staff and the public.

For more information, please refer to the link below:

https://ppblt.usm.my/index.php/activities/406-microbm

Learn Malay

With LingoHut's user-friendly approach, your journey into Malay doesn't have to be an uphill battle. Here, you'll find a streamlined path to vocabulary and pronunciation—two cornerstones for any meaningful dialogue. Spend just 5 minutes a day with LingoHut's lessons and you'll find yourself exchanging greetings and engaging in basic conversations with ease. The platform's voice-recording feature perfects your pronunciation, ensuring you don't just speak Malay—you speak it well.

Free Malay lessons

Learn to speak malay.

While the Malay language might offer an entree into a rich cultural banquet, the cost of this learning experience is exactly zero. LingoHut provides 125 comprehensive lessons absolutely free, making it a cost-effective solution for everyone from overseas professionals to expats and students. This focus on inclusivity ensures that no one is locked out of the rich tapestry that the Malay language unfolds. Whether you're a student looking to expand your academic horizons or a traveler aiming to enrich your Southeast Asian journey, LingoHut is your trustworthy companion. This isn't just language learning; this is your gateway to an entire world of experiences.

Unlocking the language of Malay is like discovering the key to a vibrant archipelago of history, food, and astonishing biodiversity. Spoken predominantly in Malaysia and Indonesia, Malay acts as a bridge to a world of lush rainforests, bustling cities like Kuala Lumpur, and a culinary heritage rich in spices and flavors. By mastering Malay, you gain a new lens to explore the splendors of Southeast Asia, from the cosmopolitan to the natural wonders.

More Malay lessons

Why learn malay, malay resource for homeschooling.

As homeschooling grows, parents look for good foreign language resources to teach Malay. Your homeschooler deserves the best platform to learn Malay, giving them the tools to communicate and understand Malay. This free homeschool foreign language resource helps build Malay vocabulary and provides a place to practice the proper pronunciation of Malay. Does your child want to learn Malay?

Malay resource for foreign language teachers

It isn't easy for a foreign language teacher to find good foreign language resources to help students improve their new Malay language skills. At LingoHut, we focus on building Malay vocabulary and teaching the proper pronunciation of Malay. It is an entirely free resource that foreign language teachers can confidently recommend. Students do not need an account to learn on the website. Do you teach Malay? Share this free foreign language resource.

Boost your professional development with Malay language skills

Invest in your future and learn Malay to accelerate your career. With the rapid pace of change, you must continually update your skills and knowledge. Stand out from the crowd with Malay language skills.

Learn Malay and get more out of your travel experience

Before a trip, the best preparation you can do is to learn some Malay words. Learning Malay will provide you with a better experience during your travels. Start learning Malay today at LingoHut.com. Click on any of the 125 + free online Malay lessons above to start your journey to communicate in Malay.

Learn Malay with the "drip-feed" approach

Imagine a dripping faucet, each drop collecting to form a puddle that continues to expand with each drip. Similarly, this approach focuses on understanding Malay in small increments. Think of each Malay word as a drop and each Malay phrase/sentence as a small puddle, which finally becomes the large pool of your new language mastery and success. Bit by bit, step by step, drop by drop, Malay is integrated successfully into your knowledge base!

Centre for Languages and Pre-University Academic Development (CELPAD)

Bahasa melayu courses.

COURSES OFFERED

There are two categories of courses that are offered by the division which are:

1. Malay Language for General Purpose

2.  Malay Language for Specific Purpose

MALAY LANGUAGE FOR GENERAL PURPOSE

MALAY LANGUAGE FOR SPECIFIC PURPOSE

+60 16-338 0008

[email protected]

WHAT WE OFFER

Bahasa malaysia.

Interactive English Course

French Language Course

Mandarin for Communication

Arabic Language

IELTS & TOFEL preparation

English For Kids

Winter & Summer Camp

Beginner: We welcome you to our Malay Beginner Level course! Upon completion of this course, you will confidently be able to communicate in Malay, making reservations and ordering food at local Malaysian establishments. You will also gain knowledge on how to ask for directions to popular Malaysian locations like Petaling Street, Batu Caves and KLCC. This course focuses on conversation skills, allowing you to talk about yourself and learn some local Malaysian phrases. Come join us on this exciting adventure to learn Malay! Pre-Intermediate: Are you ready to enhance your Malay language skills? Join us for the Pre-Intermediate Level Malay course where you will learn to describe your past experiences and talk about your future plans, including Malaysian travel destinations and aspirations. By immersing yourself in Malaysian culture, you will learn to navigate daily life situations with ease and impress your friends with your knowledge of local places and sayings. Imagine being able to confidently converse with locals while exploring Kuala Lumpur and Penang. Sign up for our Pre-Intermediate Level course and unlock a world of possibilities in Malaysia. Intermediate: We invite you to our Malay Intermediate Level course! This course equips you with the skills to handle most daily life situations and discussions in Bahasa Malaysia. You will be able to express your thoughts fluently in conversations with colleagues and locals. Additionally, you will learn about the beautiful and diverse places that Malaysia has to offer. By immersing yourself in the vibrant and multicultural society of Malaysia, you can grow as a language learner. Advanced: Step up your Malay language skills with the Malay Advanced Level course. You will gain the ability to tackle complex articles and engage in stimulating discussions with fellow Malay speakers. Your newfound fluency will allow you to immerse yourself in the language while reading newspapers and novels in Malay. This course is recommended for those aspiring to executive positions as it will equip you with the language skills necessary for daily work tasks and business meetings. Come join us on an exciting journey through the Malaysian language and discover the wonders of local Malaysian places.

• About School
• Words from the Dean
• Principal Officials
• Administrative / Technical Staff
• BA in English For Professionals Section
• MA in Translation For Professionals Section
• Malay Language Section
• English Language Section
• Foreign Language Section
• Resource Room
• Language Laboratory
• Computer Assisted Language
• Other Facilities
• Academic, Career & Talents
• Programs & Activities
• BA (Hons.) English for Professionals
• Minor Programmes
• Introduction

Malay Language

• English Language
• News & Updates
• School Activities
• Conferences
• Translation and Editing
• Language Programmes
• Intensive Programmes
• Come Chat With Me
• Publication
• Undergraduate
• Postgraduate by Research
• MA in Translation for Professionals

School of Languages, Literacies & Translation  |  Main Campus

MASTER OF ARTS (TRANSLATION FOR PROFESSIONALS) – [M.A.TfP]

PROGRAM EDUCATION OUTCOME (PEO)

PROGRAM LEARNING OUTCOME (PLO)  

COURSE SYNOPSES 

LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS

  The LKM 111 – Budaya Malaysia dan Bahasa Melayu course is compulsory as a prerequisite course (Type Z) for all international students. All international students must take and pass this course with a minimum of a Grade C .   

Registration of LKM 111 - Budaya Malaysia dan Bahasa Melayu Course for International Postgraduate Students

All matters pertaining to the registration, adding and dropping of LKM111 – Budaya Malaysia dan Bahasa Melayu are managed by the School of Languages, Literacies and Translation.

If it is necessary to deregister (drop) the LKM111 - Budaya Malaysia dan Bahasa Melayu course, the process must take place within the first week of the semester. After the first week, a penalty of RM50.00 will be imposed.

Course Registration

It is the responsibility of a student to renew his/her registration every semester and make payment of tuition fees within the renewal of registration period.

Web-based course registration must be done at the Campus Online portal ( https://campusonline.usm.my ) before the beginning of each semester. Full time students must register for at least two (2) courses each semester. Part time students are required to register for at least one (1) course each semester (excluding projects/repeating courses).

Each course registered must be indicated by one of the following codes:

If an active student fails to renew his/her registration, the University will:

• impose a penalty of RM200 (subject to permission granted for late registration), or
• initiate the termination of candidature.

Late registration will be permitted only under special circumstances and subject to the approval of the Dean/Deputy Dean of the School. Late registration is only permitted for a period of two (2) weeks after the specified registration dates. Beyond that, all applications for late registration will be referred to the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic and International Affairs) for approval. A late registration penalty of RM200 will be imposed in all cases.

Please note that students who are required to take LHP 458 and/or LHP 459 as stated in their offer letter, will have to register the course as code ‘E‘ and must pass this course with a minimum of a Grade B.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Admission Requirements

Applicants should possess the following:

• Bachelor’s degree from recognised universities/colleges/ institutes;
• Minimum CGPA of 2.75

( Applicants who do not fully meet the stipulated requirements but possess relevant working experience and have a good command of English may submit their applications for consideration.)

Language Requirements

  Applicants should be proficient in another language; and possess:

• Malaysian University English Test (MUET) (minimum Band 4) or;
• Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) (minimum 550) or;
• International English Language Testing System (IELTS) (minimum 6.0) or;
• USM Intensive English Course Level IV (minimum Grade B+).

Application Procedure

All applications must be submitted online at

http://onlineips.usm.my/admission/

Applications for Research, Coursework and Mixed Mode are open throughout the year. There are cut-off dates for Coursework and Mixed Mode programmes for processing purposes as follow:

Semester 1 (September Intake)        : 15 June

Semester 2 (February Intake)            : 30 October

FACILITIES AND SERVICES

Translation Laboratory

The translation laboratory specially built for the Master of Arts in Translation for Professionals programme is a state-of-the-art facility equipped with the latest multimedia computers installed with translation software such as SDL Trados.

Language Laboratories

The School of Languages, Literacies and Translation has a large collection of video and audio materials for all the languages offered for teaching and learning purposes. In keeping with the fast-paced development in computers and technology, the School has seven language laboratories to facilitate and enhance the teaching and learning of languages.

Resource Centre

The Centre is open to both staff and students of the School of Languages, Literacies and Translation. It consists of a resource room which contains a library of books and theses, and a computer laboratory. The Centre is open from 10.00 am to 4.00 pm from Mondays to Fridays.

Postgraduate Lounge

This lounge is exclusively for postgraduates of the School of Languages, Literacies and Translation. This comfortable lounge provides the social platform for the School’s postgraduate students to relax and/or to meet friends and course mates for casual conversations as well as plan their study groups and research when the need arises. This lounge is ideal for students to study, interact, relax or just have some peace and quiet time.

For Further Enquiries

  Tel             :   + 604-653 3145 / 3751 / 4541 / 3254

Fax             :   + 604-656 9122

E-mail         :    [email protected]

Website      :    http://www.ppblt.usm.my

• Skip to main content

• All countries /
• Humanities /
• Languages /
• Malay Language

8 Universities in Malaysia offering Malay Language degrees and courses

More Information

Are you looking for Malay Language courses? Here you can find course providers offering full-time, part-time, online or distance learning options.

You've reached your limit of 10 Favourites

Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM)

THE World Ranking: 401

Universiti Malaya

THE World Ranking: 251

International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM)

Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM)

Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS)

THE World Ranking: 1001

Open University Malaysia (OUM)

Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM)

THE World Ranking: 501

Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM)

There are more Malay Language courses available in Asia

• Negeri Sembilan
• Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur
• Study level:
• All study levels
• Postgraduate
• Undergraduate
• Study mode:
• Online/Distance

Filter your results

Tell us about you.

• Nationality Select country Select country
• My current qualification is from Select country Yes No Select country Select country
• Current qualification {0} is not applicable for the study level you selected below. Qualification Qualification
• Grade type (only one grade type for your qualification) Grade type Grade type
• My score (current or expected) Please select Please select Please select Please select Please select Please select

Tell us your preferences

• Subject Malay Language

Qualification

• Destination Malaysia
• Study options
• Annual tuition fees

Subject areas

Destination.

• The UConn School of Business has grown to become one of the most comprehensive business schools in the country.
• NEW: Want to study in your home country for a foreign qualification? Find out more about cross-border study!

PROGRAMMES OFFERED

Undergraduate programmes.

BACHELOR OF ARTS LINGUISTICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (HONS.) (BLIT)

BACHELOR OF ARTS CONTEMPORARY LITERATURE AND CREATIVE INDUSTRY MANAGEMENT (HONS.) (BCLCIM)

BACHELOR OF ARTS APPLIED LINGUISTICS AND BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION (HONS.) (BALBA) 

BACHELOR OF APPLIED HISTORY (HONS.) (BAH)

POSTGRADUATE PROGRAMMES

• BAHASA MELAYU KONTEMPORARI (COURSEWORK)
• BAHASA MELAYU KONTEMPORARI (RESEARCH)
• MASTERS IN APPLIED LINGUISTICS BY COURSEWORK
• MASTERS IN APPLIED LINGUISTICS BY RESEARCH

ISLAMIC STUDIES BY RESEARCH

HISTORY BY RESEARCH

Training & Courses

The MTA-DBP Professional Translation Diploma Course (one of the main long-term courses) was started in 1983 on the initiative and ideas of the MTA and DBP to ensure that all translators assigned to translate scholarly books are trained more professionally. The Special Syllabus is adapted from the syllabus of the University of Malaya translation diploma course. Prof. Dato’ Dr. Asmah Hj. Omar officiated the launch of the course.

In addition, short-term support courses for upgrading relevant knowledge are also organized. These courses have received encouraging response.

Professional Diploma Courses

• MTA-DBP Professional Translation Diploma Course

Short Courses 2024

• Subtitle Preparation Course
• Malay Translation Editing Course
• Technology Application in Digital Translation Course
• Build Your Career as a Professional Translator Course
• Higher Malay Language Course
• Creative Translation Intensive Course
• Arabic – Malay Translation Course
• Mandarin Theoretical And Practical Translation Course

Short Courses Offered

• ORGANIZATION CHART
• TRANSLATION
• DOCUMENT VERIFICATION
• TRANSLATION EDITING
• PROFESSIONAL DIPLOMA COURSES
• SHORT COURSES
• BOOK PUBLICATION
• PUBLICATION COLLABORATION
• Edition 2021
• Edition 2023
• INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON TRANSLATION (ICT)
• OTHER ACTIVITIES
• INTERNATIONAL

Malaysian teacher raising profile of Bahasa Melayu in Japan

K UALA LUMPUR - She has dedicated a substantial portion of her career as an educator to teaching Bahasa Melayu in Japan and raising the profile of Malaysia’s national language in the Land of the Rising Sun.

Faridah Mohamed is 65 now but retirement is the last thing on her mind. She is currently a special visiting lecturer at the Centre for Language and Culture Studies at Tokyo University of Foreign Studies. Just recently, the university renewed her contract for another four years.

The former teacher of Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Sanzac Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, considers Japan a home away from home, having first set foot in Tokyo in 1989.

In a telephone interview with Bernama, she said she was among the first batch of government schoolteachers selected under the Look East Policy to attend a one-year course in Japanese language studies.

"After completing this course, I accepted an offer to do a four-year degree course in Japanese language and culture studies at Mei Kai University (in Chiba, about 50 kilometres from Tokyo),” she said.

Needless to say, Faridah, who hails from Batu Pahat, Johor, became fluent in Japanese and can also read and write in the language.

"During my early days (in Japan), I received numerous offers for part-time jobs teaching Bahasa Melayu in schools and universities, translating (from Japanese to Malay and vice-versa), proofreading and doing voiceovers for schools and private companies,” she said.

She also got offers to translate radio and drama scripts, and documentaries and has even compiled a few Japanese-Malay, Malay-Japanese dictionaries and written basic and intermediate-level Japanese-Malay communication books.

"I did not turn down any offer because I enjoyed teaching the locals our national language, focusing on the use of proper grammar. The pay was good too... I didn’t have much competition because at that time there were no Malays here taking advantage of all those opportunities,” she told Bernama.

On why she decided to stay back in Japan after completing the one-year course in 1989, Faridah said it was driven by her enthusiasm to elevate Bahasa Melayu’s prominence on the world stage.

The mother-of-two said it was a tough decision to make but she saw the vast job opportunities in Japan as a Bahasa Melayu teacher.

Since she was a government teacher then, she had to pay a penalty as compensation to the Malaysian government for choosing to remain in Japan. Fortunately, she could settle the payment with the money she earned from her part-time work as a teacher and translator.

"I have teaching skills and expertise in both Bahasa Melayu and the Japanese language. My name is well-known and often referenced,” said Faridah, who also has a Master’s degree in Comparative Cultural Studies from the International Christian University in Tokyo.

Faridah hoped the Malaysian government or local universities would send experienced educators of high calibre to Japan to further promote the Malay language in that nation.

"The Japanese people’s acceptance of Malay is growing and gaining more ground compared to 20 or 30 years ago. While people of other races can also teach Bahasa Melayu, their grammar and vocabulary skills may not be precise, and they often mix Malay with foreign languages,” she said.

She added that she is worried universities or schools in Japan may be forced to discontinue their Bahasa Melayu courses due to a shortage of teachers.

Asked when she plans to return to her homeland for good, Faridah said she will remain in Japan as long as her expertise and skills are needed or until a suitable replacement can be found to continue the work she is currently doing. - BERNAMA