Numbers are a fundamental part of any language. Let's learn the first ten numbers in Malay, which will immediately allow you to talk about prices, quantities, and much more.
By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:
The pronunciation is very phonetic. Practice saying them aloud!
| Digit | Malay Word | Phonetic Guide |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | satu | (sah-too) |
| 2 | dua | (doo-ah) |
| 3 | tiga | (tee-gah) |
| 4 | empat | (uhm-paht) |
| 5 | lima | (lee-mah) |
| 6 | enam | (uh-nahm) |
| 7 | tujuh | (too-jooh) |
| 8 | lapan | (lah-pahn) |
| 9 | sembilan | (suhm-bee-lahn) |
| 10 | sepuluh | (suh-poo-looh) |
In Malay, just like in English, the number comes before the object you are counting. The noun does not change for plurals, making it very simple!
Example: You never have to worry about adding an 's' to the end of words. "Two book" (`dua buku`) is the correct way to say "two books".
Memorize the numbers one through ten with this dedicated flashcard deck.
Import Chapter 5 Flashcards(Requires login to import/study)
Match the digit to its Malay word.
2 ( ) tujuh
5 ( ) dua
7 ( ) empat
4 ( ) lima2 → dua
5 → lima
7 → tujuh
4 → empatTranslate the following phrases into Malay.
Numbers are a key part of daily transactions in Malaysia, especially at the vibrant `pasar malam` (night markets) or local `kedai runcit` (grocery shops). Prices are often stated simply, for example, "Tiga ringgit" (Three ringgit). Being able to understand these basic numbers will make your shopping experiences much smoother and more engaging.
A simple story about a boy, Abu, counting his toys.
Ini Abu. Dia ada banyak mainan. (ee-nee ah-boo. dee-ah ah-dah bahn-yahk mah-ee-nahn.)
Dia ada satu bola. (dee-ah ah-dah sah-too boh-lah.)
Dia ada empat kereta. (dee-ah ah-dah uhm-paht kuh-ray-tah.)
Dan dia ada sepuluh askar. (dahn dee-ah ah-dah suh-poo-looh ahs-kar.)
This is Abu. He has many toys.
He has one ball.
He has four cars.
And he has ten soldiers.
Bagus! (Good!) You can now count to ten. In the next chapter, we will dive into `Struktur Ayat Mudah` (Simple Sentence Structure), where we'll learn how to combine nouns, verbs, and objects to create your first complete sentences, like "I read a book" or "The cat eats fish."