The Malay you’ll actually say this week.

Short lessons in the conversational Malay spoken in Singapore.

BasicsStart here

Malay

Saya baru belajar Melayu.

I’m just learning Malay.

Start here: the words every conversation runs on

No tenses, no plurals, no genders. Here’s what’s left.

6 min · 10 linesRead

Kopitiam

Malay

Nak nasi lemak satu, bungkus.

One nasi lemak, to go.

Order at a hawker stall

Nak, satu, bungkus — three words carry the whole order.

4 min · 8 linesRead

Kopitiam

Malay

Kopi O kosong satu.

One black coffee, no sugar.

Crack the kopitiam coffee code

Kopi is a system. Four Malay words and you can order anything.

4 min · 8 linesRead

With friends

Malay

Eh, lama tak nampak!

Hey, long time no see!

Say hi like a friend, not a textbook

Apa khabar is fine. Nobody under sixty opens with it.

3 min · 8 linesRead

Basics

Malay

Boleh tolong bagi satu lagi?

Could you give me one more, please?

Sorry, thanks, and the word that isn’t please

Malay has no exact please. It has something better.

3 min · 8 linesRead

Getting around

Malay

Tanya sikit, MRT dekat mana?

Quick question, whereabouts is the MRT?

Ask the way, and understand the answer

Asking is easy. The reply is where people freeze.

4 min · 8 linesRead

Errands

Malay

Berapa semua?

How much altogether?

Count, pay, and check the change

Ten numbers, two rules, every price in Singapore.

4 min · 8 linesRead

With friends

Malay

Okay lah, jom.

Alright then, let’s go.

Lah, kan, je: the particles that make you sound local

Three tiny words. They carry the tone a textbook can’t.

4 min · 8 linesRead

With friends

Malay

Weekend ni buat apa?

What are you doing this weekend?

Small talk: the weekend, the heat, the food

Three topics cover most lift conversations. No past tense required.

3 min · 8 linesRead

The cheatsheet gets you to the stall. Aiman gets you through the order.

Set a scene, chat in Malay, hear every line, and quiz what you said. Free to start.

Start practising