Malay for travel
Malay phrases for travel
Connect with Locals Using Essential Malay Phrases
Traveling is much more rewarding when you speak the local language. This guide offers simple Malay phrases tailored for your trip to Pangkor Island, helping you bridge the communication gap when English isn’t enough.
Whether you are navigating transportation, staying at a hotel, or dining out, these expressions will help you feel closer to the community and travel with confidence. Plus, these phrases are highly effective for your travels in Indonesia, too!
Quick Reference Guide
- 🙋Everyday greetings – Start your day with a smile.
- 🚌 Transportation – Get around the Malaysia with ease.
- 🛏️ At the hotel – Essential phrases for a comfortable stay.
- 🍽️ At Restaurants & Cafes – Order like a local.
- 👗 Shopping – Helpful expressions for local markets.
- 📷 At tourist spots – Make the most of your sightseeing.
- 😵 In case of trouble – Stay safe and prepared for emergencies.
🙋 Everyday greetings
Hello = Helo
Good morning 🌞🙋= Slamat Pagi
Good night 🌙🙋= Slamat malam
Thank you = Terima kasih
You’re welcome = Sama sama
See you 👋=Jumpa lagi
🚌 Transportation
At taxi or bus🚌 ticket counters
To ○○ = Sampai ○○
🧕 How many people? = Berapa orang?
👪 (1 / 2 / 3) people = (satu / dua / tiga) orang
🕒 What time does the bus (depart/arrive)?
= Pukul berapa bas (bertolak / tiba)?
🧕 It’s ○○ o’clock AM = Pukul ○○ pagi
🧕 It’s ○○ o’clock PM = Pukul ○○ petang
1=satu / 2=dua / 3=tiga / 4=empat / 5=lima / 6=enam / 7=tujuh / 8=lapan / 9=sembilan / 10=sepuluh / 11=sebelas / 12=dua belas
🚌 (How long / how much) does it take to get to ○○?
Berapa (lama / ringgit) sampai di ○○?
🚏 Where can I ride ○○? = Di mana boleh naik ○○?
🛏️ At the hotel
When searching for a hotel on the day of your stay without a reservation
Do you have any vacant rooms? =Ada bilik kosong?
Yes, there is = Ada
No, there isn’t = Tak ada / tidak ada
Can I see the room? = Boleh saya lihat bilik?
It’s okay 🙆 = Boleh or Tak apa
No 🙅♂️ = Tak boleh
While you are staying at the hotel
Do you have (car / motorcycles / cycles) rentals?
Ada sewa (kereta 🚗 / moto 🛵 / basikal 🚲)?
Yes, there is = Ada
No, there isn’t = Tak ada / tidak ada
Please call a (taxi🚕) = Tolong panggil teksi
Please lend me (☂️ umbrella)= Tolong pinjam (☂️ payung)
*To borrow another bath towel for the beach
Can I borrow one more (towel)?
Tolong pinjam (tuala) lagi satu helai?
Trouble in the room and request
There is a problem = ada masalah
🚿(Water / hot water) is not coming out
= (Air / air panas) tak keluar
💡 (The light in the room) won’t turn on
= (Lampu bilik) tak menyala
(The toilet water) won’t flush = (Air tandas) tak mengalir
(Toilet paper) please = Minta (tisu tandas)
Please change (room / bedsheets)
= Sila tukar (bilik / cadar katil)
🍽️ At a restaurant / cafe
When ordering
🧕 Minum? =🍹What to drink?
Condensed milk (iced) coffee = Kopi (ais)
Sugar only (iced) coffee = Kopi-O (ais)
Unsweetened (iced) coffee = Kopi-O kosong (ais)
Condensed milk (iced) tea ＝Teh (ais)
Sugar only (iced) tea = Teh-O (ais)
Unsweetened (iced) tea = Teh-O kosong (ais)
*For hot drinks, just add “panas" instead of “ice" at the end.
🧕makan? = 🍽️ What to eat?
I want to eat ○○ = Saya mahu makan ○○
I don’t want ＝Tak mahu
No need ＝ Tak payah / Tak perlu
later = nanti
I want to eat ○○ = Saya mahu makan ○○
Ingredients
| 🐂 beef = daging lembu | 🍤 shrimp = udang |
| 🐓 chicken = ayam | 🦑 squid = sotong |
| 🐐 goat = kambing | 🐚 shellfish = kerang |
| 🐖 pork = babi | 🍆 vegetables = sayur |
| 🐟 fish = ikan | 🍚 rice = nasi |
| 🦀 crab = ketam | 🍝 noodles = mee |
Cooking method
🌶️ Don’t cook it (spicy) = Jangan masak (pedas)
Example:
Please don’t cook it too spicy (as children can’t eat it).
Tolong Jangan masak pedas (kerana anak tidak boleh makan).
I don’t want (Chili peppers 🌶️) = Tak mahu (Cili 🌶️)
🎃 Don’t cook it (sweetly)= Jangan masak (manis)
taste
| spicy ＝ pedas | bitter = pahit |
| sweet = manis | hard = keras |
| salty = masin | soft = lembut |
| sour = masam |
👍 tasty = sedap
👎 Not very tasty (so-so) = Tak (begitu) sedap
Please give me another one of these = Tolong beri saya satu lagi ini.
I’m full = kenyang
I’m hungry = lapar
enough = cukup
not enough = tak cukup
seasoning
| salt = garam | soy sauce = kicap |
| sugar = gula | sauce = sos |
Checkout
how much? = berapa?
All together = Semua sekali
separately = masing-masing
■ Numbers (used for amounts, numbers, quantities, etc.)
| 1(satu) | 11(sebelas) | 21(dua puluh satu) |
| 2(dua) | 12(dua-belas) | 22(dua puluh dua) |
| 3(tiga) | 13(tiga belas) | 23(dua puluh tiga) |
| 4(empat) | 14(empat belas) | 24(dua puluh empat) |
| 5(lima) | 15(lima belas) | 25(dua puluh lima) |
| 6(enam) | 16(enam belas) | 26(dua puluh enam) |
| 7(tujuh) | 17(tujuh belas) | 27(dua puluh tujuh) |
| 8(lapan) | 18(lapan belas) | 28(dua puluh lapan) |
| 9(sembilan) | 19(sembilan belas) | 29(dua puluh sembilan) |
| 10(sepuluh) | 20(dua puluh) | 30(tiga puluh) |
| 50(lima puluh) | 150(seratus lima puluh) | 2,000(dua ribu) |
| 60(enam puluh) | 200(dua ratus) | 5,000(lima ribu) |
| 70(tujuh puluh) | 300(tiga ratus ) | 1万(sepuluh ribu) |
| 80(lapan puluh) | 10万(seratus ribu) | |
| 90(sembilan puluh) | 100万(satu juta) | |
| 100(seratus) | 1,000(seribu) | many = banayk |
👗 Shopping
What is this? = Apa ini?
What is this for? = Untuk apa ini?
👗 Do you have any (bigger / smaller) ones?
Ada lagi (besar / kecil)?
I want a different color = Saya nak warna lain
I want ○○ color = Saya mahu warna ○○
| red = merah | yellow = kuning |
| white = putih | green = hijau |
| black = hitam | blue = biru |
How much is it? ＝ Berapa harganya? (Just Berapa? is OK.)
🙏 Can you give me a small discount? = boleh kurang sikit
Where can I buy ○○? = Di mana saya boleh beli ○○?
📷 At tourist spots
Where is here? = Mana sini?
I want to go to ○○ = Saya mahu pergi ke ○○
📷 Can I take photos?
Boleh saya ambil gambar?
It’s OK 🙆 = Boleh
No 🙅= Tak boleh
Please take (me/us) a photo.
Tolong ambil gambar (saya / kami)
Please take a photo (with me).
Tolong ambil gambar (dengan saya).
Can I come inside? = Boleh saya masuk ke dalam?
OK 🙆 = Boleh
No 🙅 = Tak boleh
😵 In case of trouble
😵 Help! = Tolong!
I want to go to (pharmacy / hospital / police station).
Saya mahu pergi ke (farmasi / hospital / balai polis).
At hospitals or pharmacies
I have pain in ○○ = Saya sakit di ○○
Body parts
| head = kepala headache = sakit kepala | leg / feet = kaki / tapak kaki |
| stomach / belly = perut abdominal pain = sakit perut | back = kembali / belakang |
| arm / hand = lengan / tangan | waist = pinggang |
Symptoms
I have pain in ○○ = Saya sakit di ○○
I have a fever = ada demam
I caught a cold = selsema
I have a cough = ada batuk
hot = panas
cold = sujuk
I want some (cold) medicine 💊
= Saya mahu ubat (selsema) 💊
I cut (this) = sudah luka (ini)
I fell down = sudah jatuh
Is there poison? = ada racun?
I’m worried about (germs) = Saya bimbang (kuman)
No problem = Tak ada masalah.
At the police station
I lost ○○ = ○○ sudah hilang
I dropped it = Saya sudah jatuh
Stolen = Dicuri
I was deceived = Saya tertipu
| 💴 money = wang | 👜 bag = beg |
| 👝 wallet = dompet | 🗝 key = kunci |
| 📦 luggage = barang |
thief = pencuri
robbery = penyamun / rompakan
Can’t find the phrase you’re looking for?
If you need a word that isn’t listed here, Google Translate (English ⇔ Malay) is a great backup.
While it occasionally produces literal translations that might sound a bit unnatural to a local’s ears, it is generally well-understood and incredibly reliable for basic communication. We highly recommend having the app installed on your smartphone—it’s a lifesaver when you’re on the go!