Pronouns are the words we use to refer to people without using their names, like "I," "you," or "they." Mastering them is essential for building sentences.
By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:
Here are the most common personal pronouns you will need for everyday conversation.
| Malay Pronoun | Phonetic Guide | English |
|---|---|---|
| Saya | (sah-yah) | I / me |
| Dia | (dee-ah) | He / She / Him / Her |
| Kami | (kah-mee) | We / Us (exclusive - not including the listener) |
| Kita | (kee-tah) | We / Us (inclusive - including the listener) |
| Mereka | (muh-ray-kah) | They / Them |
Malay has several ways to say "you," depending on formality and relationship. Here are the three most important for a beginner.
| Malay Pronoun | Phonetic Guide | Usage |
|---|---|---|
| Awak | (ah-wah) | Informal/Neutral: Good for use with peers, friends, and in most general situations. This is the safest default choice. |
| Kamu | (kah-moo) | Informal/Familiar: Used when talking to someone younger, a close friend, or a child. Can sound a bit condescending if used with an elder. |
| Anda | (ahn-dah) | Formal: Used in advertisements, official forms, and when you want to show respect or maintain distance. You will see this written more than you hear it. |
This is one of the best parts of learning Malay. Verbs do not change based on the pronoun! The verb `makan` (to eat) is the same for everyone.
Master these essential personal pronouns.
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Match the Malay pronoun to its English meaning.
Saya ( ) They
Dia ( ) We (including you)
Kita ( ) I
Mereka ( ) He / She
Saya → I
Dia → He / She
Kita → We (including you)
Mereka → They
Translate the following short sentences into Malay.
The distinction between `kami` (we, but not you) and `kita` (we, including you) is very important in Malay culture. It reflects a clear sense of social grouping. For example, if a family is discussing their own plans, they would use `kami`: "**Kami** akan pergi ke pasar." (We are going to the market.) If they are inviting you to join them, they would switch to `kita`: "Jom, **kita** pergi ke pasar." (Come on, let's [all of us] go to the market.) Using `kita` is a very inclusive and friendly gesture.
A simple story about a group of friends.
Saya suka kawan-kawan saya. Nama mereka Ali dan Siti. (sah-yah soo-kah kah-wahn-kah-wahn sah-yah. nah-mah muh-ray-kah ah-lee dahn see-tee.)
Dia (Ali) suka main bola. Dia (Siti) suka baca buku. (dee-ah soo-kah mah-een boh-lah. dee-ah soo-kah bah-chah boo-koo.)
Setiap petang, kita jumpa di taman. (suh-tyahp puh-tahng, kee-tah joom-pah dee tah-mahn.)
Mereka main, dan saya tengok. (muh-ray-kah mah-een, dahn sah-yah teng-ok.)
I like my friends. Their names are Ali and Siti.
He (Ali) likes to play ball. She (Siti) likes to read books.
Every evening, we (all of us) meet at the park.
They play, and I watch.
Syabas! You now know the core pronouns. In the next chapter, `Memperkenalkan Diri` (Introducing Yourself), we will combine these pronouns with the greetings you've learned to build your first full, practical conversation.