The Malay language is a member of the Western Group of the Austronesian Family, and is the native language of the Deutro-Malays, or modern Malays. People in Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore and Brunei speak Malay as their first or second language. Like English and other languages in the world, it has many different dialects, ranging from Batavian to Kelantanese. Each dialect has its own way of sounding, and a native speaker of the language can usually tell a dialect from another.

Basic Phrases

Here are some basic phrases to get you started...

+ Apa khabar? = How are you?
+ Selamat pagi = Good morning
+ Selamat tengahari = Good afternoon
+ Selamat petang = Good evening
+ Selamat malam = Good night
+ Nama saya... = My name is...
+ Ya/tidak = Yes/no
+ Terima kasih = Thank you
+ Selamat tinggal = Goodbye
+ Selamat datang = Welcome
+ Langkawi cantik = Langkawi is beautiful
+ Saya lapar = I am hungry
+ Satu = One
+ Dua = Two
+ Tiga = Three
+ Empat = Four
+ Lima = Five
+ Enam = Six
+ Tujuh = Seven
+ Lapan = Eight
+ Sembilan = Nine
+ Sepuluh = Ten
+ Kosong = Zero

Pronunciation

This is a big challenge, using just words from other languages to represent those sounds utilised by another different language society. Somehow with Malay it seems quite possible especially if you are native speakers of German, Spanish or perhaps Russian where the spelling system adheres closely to the way it is voiced, of course with a little exceptions which won't defeat your enthusiasm to learn.
The consonants in Malay need not take much of your time. If you'd learned the basic functions of b, d, f, g, h, j, k, l, m, n, p, q (no malay words use this anyway), r, s, t, v, w, x (not to worry too) y and z, you are on your way to mastering bahasa Melayu.

Take note: C is like ch as in English chair

A,a is like the u in English but, guard So bahasa is like saying ba as in ba ba blacksheep ha is like the ha when you laugh, hahaha, sa is like the first syllable of supper

E in Malay or even Indonesian may need a special attention though if you are really serious of getting your pronunciation brilliantly uttered. There's two sounds for E in Malay. One is schwa like e.g berapa: how much/many . Its like English u in burp, or the i in Sir.

Whereas the other E is like English a in pay, say, bay. E.g. merah : red;

I works like i in English is, instruments, important . E.g. Sini : here,

O simply use the o as in Oh my God. E.g. botak :bald-headed; botol : bottle

U is always like the oo in oompah pah or the u in Bush, e.g buka : to open ; tutup : to close

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