Learn Malay: A One-Stop Guide to Learn Bahasa Melayu

Welcome to the Malay archipelago: a region of jam-packed cities and mega-diverse jungles, fast-growing economies and shopkeepers who you’ll call “auntie,” historic temples, soaring skyscrapers, powerful artwork, arcades you could get lost in, restaurants you would happily get lost in, and hundreds of languages and cultures living side-by-side – sometimes with friction, but mostly happily.

Already know how to go about learning Malay and want to get started with our Malay reviews and recommendations? Take a look at these posts:

• Best Apps to Learn Malay: A Resource Guide to Kickstart Your Bahasa Journey
• 5 Best Podcasts to Learn Malay
• 35+ Resources For Learning Malay – Lots of Free Options!

• The Language Exchange Showdown: Our Top Apps & Websites
• The Best Language Learning Apps – We’ve Tested 40+ Options
• Most Spoken Languages In The World: Plus Language Resources For The Top 35 Languages

Learn Malay with this comprehensive guide and explore history, grammar, vocabulary, resources, tips, and answers to language learning FAQs here. Dive in.

Malay is just two (yes, two!) of these languages. But whether you’re speaking bahasa Melayu or bahasa Indonesia, you’ll find that it unlocks smiles and lets you hold conversations with complete strangers through to friends’ families.

Before you start creating word lists and searching for tutors, let’s take a look at the Malay apps, courses, and textbooks you might like to use, as well as what sets the Malay language apart and how to create your study plan.

About the Malay Language

There were around 200–250 million speakers of Malay in 2009, according to the linguist James T. Collins’ research. And that figure has likely increased over the past 11 years, due to growing population sizes.

Yet if you disregard all the people who speak Malay as a second language, this number drops to just 77 million. And if you then remove Indonesian from the category, and look at just native speakers of bahasa Melayu, you’re left with just 19 million speakers spread across Malaysia, Singapore, and Brunei.

Much like how millions of non-native speakers use English to communicate, people on the Malay peninsula use Malay to communicate with people from other communities and ethnic groups – even when it’s not the first language of anyone in the room.

It’s heavily influenced by Sanskrit and Arabic, while early modern colonialism introduced English and Dutch loanwords. And Tamil and Chinese traders also shaped Bazaar Malay or Baba Malay, a pidgin language that later evolved into modern-day Indonesian.

But wait, why do we keep talking about Indonesians?

Indonesian vs Malay: What’s the Difference?

Modern-day Malay can be separated into two variants: bahasa Melayu and bahasa Indonesia.

Bahasa Melayu is spoken in Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, and to a lesser extent, Indonesia. In Malaysia, it’s called bahasa Malaysia (which is controversial, given that not all Malaysians speak it).

Bahasa Indonesia, on the other hand, is spoken only in Indonesia, where it’s the lingua franca for a country with over 300 ethnic groups and, or so it’s estimated, over 700 languages. That means that Malay Indonesians will speak bahasa Melayu at home but bahasa Indonesia with people from other communities.

Wondering why they all begin with “bahasa?” That’s because it means language.

These two Malay variants are considered mutually intelligible. Yet while most bahasa Indonesia speakers will get the gist of what you’re saying if you speak to them in bahasa Melayu, there are significant differences, especially in the spelling, pronunciation, and loan words.

Rather dangerously, there are also a few false friends, such as percuma, which means “free” in bahasa Melayu but “useless” in bahasa Indonesia. And a handful of R-rated ones could lead to even greater offence than if you were to accidentally describe someone’s generously given free help as useless.

To understand why these two languages are so close and yet so different, we need to look at the region’s colonial history.

For a grand part of their past, Indonesia and Malaysia were in the same empire or even kingdom. The Malacca Sultanate of the 14th to 16th century, for example, straddled the two islands. So too did the 16th–18th-century Aceh Sultanate.

However, as various European empires began colonizing the region, the two islands found themselves divided between different colonial powers: Indonesia ended up under Dutch rule, while what is today Malaysia and Singapore became part of the British Empire – although not until after the British and Dutch had squabbled over who ruled Singapore. Meanwhile, Brunei became a British protectorate in 1888.

The British and Dutch colonizers found themselves ruling over people who not only spoke an unfamiliar language but wrote it with a different script: jawi. In response, they both independently set about finding a way to write Malay with the Latin alphabet. This led to the spelling differences between bahasa Melayu and bahasa Indonesia.

They also imported different loanwords. Christmas, for example, is krismas in bahasa Melayu but Natal in bahasa Indonesia. Money is duit in bahasa Indonesia, from the copper Dutch coin, but wang in bahasa Melayu.

While these variations are equally valid and important, we’ve focused on resources for learning bahasa Melayu. This isn’t to disregard the existence of bahasa Indonesia, but rather a reflection of the differences and the fact that most language learners describe it as Indonesian rather than Malay.

Extract from the Malay-language record of the 1805 sale of an indigenous Batak female slave called Dima to Mr. Peter Clark under British imperialist rule. Public Domain.

Jawi and Rumi: The Two Writing Scripts of Malay

Today, most people write Malay in Rumi, which is the same Latin script we use in English. But in certain places, especially in Brunei and rural Malaysia, you’ll come across signs saying تريما کاسيه instead of terima kasih, or “thank you.”

Malay was originally written in a variety of scripts. There was Pallava, which originates from Southern India and has since evolved into Khmer, Thai, Lao, and many more Southeast Asian scripts. There was also Devanāgarī, an Indian script that was also used to write Sanskrit, Hindi, Marathia, and more. Kawi and Rencong, both of which originate in Indonesia, were also common.

Yet with the peaceful spread of Islam across the region, these alphabets fell out of fashion and were replaced with Arabic. Over time, a new script, Jawi, developed that included the characters ڽ ڬ ﭪ ڠڠ . These were needed to represent phonemes found in Malay and other Southeast Asian languages.

The earliest discovered evidence of Jawi dates to the beginning of the 14th century, and the writing system is still in use today. It is a co-official script in Brunei, where both Malay and English are official languages.

There is also a government drive to increase its use across Malaysia. However, not all are in favour of this, especially given Malaysia’s multilingualism and Jawi’s close association with Islam. When the government tried to make studying khat, Jawi calligraphy, mandatory in primary education, it had to back down after fierce opposition – especially among Chinese and Tamil schools.

Meanwhile, in Singapore and Indonesia, the Latin alphabet is the official one.

You won’t need to learn Jawi to communicate in Malay, but you might like to, especially if you plan to live or travel in Brunei or Malaysia. We’ve included resources for how to learn it below, so keep reading.

Why Learning Malay Is Your Next Great Cultural Discovery

Hey there, language lovers! If you’re anything like me—a history nerd with a passion for food and a belief that everyone should learn a few foreign languages—then let me introduce you to Malay.

Learning Malay is like being handed a golden key to a treasure chest of Southeast Asian history, street food menus, and warm conversations across multiple countries. Spoken by over 300 million people in various forms (including Bahasa Malaysia and Bahasa Indonesia), Malay language is one of the most accessible and far-reaching Austronesian languages in the world.

Whether you’re wandering through a night market in Kuala Lumpur, sipping teh tarik in Penang, or browsing a spice aisle in a Johor Bahru supermarket (my personal happy place), learning Malay opens the door to a region that’s full of flavor—linguistically and literally.

6 Fascinating Facts About the Malay Language

1. A Language That’s Easier Than You Think
   Malay is delightfully approachable. It uses the Latin alphabet, has no grammatical gender, skips tricky verb conjugations, and has a pretty logical sentence structure. For example: Saya makan nasi = “I eat rice.” Add one word—sudah (already)—and you’ve got the past tense. That’s it. This makes learning Malay very beginner-friendly and surprisingly satisfying.
2. One Language, Many Countries
   The Malay language (or Bahasa Melayu) is spoken in Malaysia, Brunei, Singapore, parts of southern Thailand, and across Indonesia (as Bahasa Indonesia). While each country has its own variation, the core structure is the same. So when you learn Malay, you’re not just learning one language—you’re gaining access to multiple cultures.
3. Food Words That Tell a Story
   Malay vocabulary is a treasure trove for foodies like me. Take “nasi” (rice)—it’s everywhere, from “nasi lemak” (coconut rice) to “nasi goreng” (fried rice). These dishes aren’t just meals; they’re history on a plate, shaped by Chinese, Indian, and Arab traders centuries ago. Exploring a Malaysian supermarket feels like a linguistic field trip!
4. A Language Built for Trade and Travel
   Malay was the lingua franca of Southeast Asia’s maritime empires, like Srivijaya and Malacca. History nerd alert: its spread came from spice routes and ports, not conquest. The Malay archipelago has been a hub for trade for centuries, and the language reflects that. You’ll find loanwords from Sanskrit, Arabic, Portuguese, Dutch, Chinese, and English. If you’re into etymology or love tracing how ideas and ingredients move between cultures, Malay language study is a goldmine.
5. Musical, Friendly, and Perfect for Everyday Chat
   Malay has a gentle, melodic rhythm that’s easy on the ears. It’s expressive, polite, and flexible—just like the people who speak it. Basic communication is often simple and direct, which makes it great for travelers, foodies, and language dabblers alike. Plus, locals will absolutely light up when you greet them in their own language.
6. Rich in Cultural Expression
   From pantun (traditional poetic verses) to Malay proverbs (peribahasa), the language is full of metaphor and layered meaning. Even everyday expressions often reflect a deeper cultural value—like the importance of respect, humility, or community. Learning Malay means you don’t just speak the words—you get the worldview.

How to Learn Malay

Malay Alphabet and Pronunciation Overview

Malay Alphabet:

But! Only 26 letters are used in everyday Malay language writing—same as English, with consistent pronunciation.

Quick Notes:

• A: Like “ah” in “father”—open and warm.
• C:  Is always pronounced like “ch” (e.g., cakap = to speak).
• E: Two sounds—either “eh” (as in “bed”) or “ay” (as in “say”), depending on the word.
• G: Always hard, like “go”—no soft “j” sound here.
• R: Slightly rolled, especially in formal speech.
• V, X, Q: Rare, mostly in loanwords (e.g., “televisyen” for TV).
• Spelling is almost entirely phonetic, which makes reading and pronunciation easier than many other languages.

Basic Malay Phrases for Beginners

Here’s a starter pack of Malay phrases to get you going. They’re perfect for chatting up vendors at a pasar (market) or impressing locals over a plate of satay:

• Hai! – Hi!
• Apa khabar? – How are you?
• Khabar baik – I’m fine
• Terima kasih – Thank you
• Sama-sama – You’re welcome
• Maaf – Sorry / Excuse me
• Ya / Tidak – Yes / No
• Berapa harganya ini? – How much is this?
• Saya belajar Bahasa Melayu – I am learning Malay
• Di mana pasar? – Where is the market?
• Di mana tandas? – Where is the bathroom?
• Selamat pagi / Selamat malam – Good morning / Good night

These will help you with everything from shopping in local markets to chatting with new friends over nasi lemak.

How Difficult Is Malay?

Relax. Compared to other Southeast Asian languages, Malay is a fairly accessible language. The US Foreign Service Institute considers it one of the 15 easiest languages for English speakers to pick up, putting it roughly in line with German.

Saying it’s like German, however, is a tad misleading: for English speakers, German has a more complex grammar system but similar vocabulary. Malay, however, has a completely different vocabulary but a more straightforward grammar system.

Of course, this is relative and will depend on what you’ve studied before. But let’s look at some characteristics of Malay: like English, there are no noun cases and it’s not a tonal language. Unlike English, the pronunciation is fairly regular.

There is no grammatical gender. You can say “she studies Malay in school,” but neither Malay nor the school is feminine or masculine.

There is normally no copula, i.e. “to be,” something that will seem familiar to Japanese and Russian students. Saya means “I,” pelajar means “student,” and saya pelajar means “I am a student.”

Talking about plural things, e.g. “chairs” rather than “a chair?” You can either keep it ambiguous and use the same word (a chair, kerusi), specify how many (five chairs, lima kerusi), or just make it clear that there’s more than one by repeating the word (kerusi-kerusi), depending on how precise you want to be. Either way, you won’t need to learn new vocabulary or rules about pluralizing adjectives.

You probably also noticed that “a chair” is two words in English but one in Malay. That’s because there’s no definite or indefinite article (the, a, an). There are demonstrative pronouns (that, this, those, these…) but only two of them, ini and itu.

On the other hand, counting is a little more difficult due to the use of classifiers. Five chairs might be “lima kerusi” but five cats are lima ekor kucing or “five – animal counter – cat” and five oranges are lima biji oren or “five – small, round object counter – orange.” Yet while this might seem novel to begin with, it won’t take long to pick it up.

The verb conjugation is much easier, with the past, present, and future indicated not by changes to the word’s spelling and pronunciation but by adverbs and modal verbs – the equivalent of “will,” “later,” and “already.” Instead of memorizing conjugation tables and irregular verbs, you’ll just need to master a handful of words to begin differentiating between what you did at the weekend and what you’ll do next weekend.

Malay also makes heavy use of affixes, which means you can expand your vocabulary pretty quickly. Plus, it will help you out with your listening and reading: once you’ve learned to recognize the affixes, you won’t have to keep reaching for a dictionary.

For example, a pe or pen prefix turns a verb or noun into a person, e.g. a penjual is a vendor, someone who sells (jual) things. Meanwhile, kedai means shop and pekedai is a shopkeeper. Alternatively, combining the prefix “ke” and the suffix “ken” converts nouns into adjectives, and the ter prefix makes an adjective superlative, e.g. termahal means the most expensive (mahal).

However, there is one thing that can catch Malay language learners out: the different dialects and slang. In Malaysia alone, there are 137 different languages and 30 native tribes, which results in variations on the standard bahasa Malaysia. Switching between them can add layers of additional meaning.

Don’t worry too much, because you’ll always be understood by native speakers – but as a learner, you might find yourself saying saya tidak faham, “I don’t understand,” when you first meet people from other regions.

Is Malay Easy to Learn?

The best way to learn Malay will depend on you. What are your goals? What do you like to do? How much time do you have?

Once you’ve worked that out, you can start creating a study plan – one that hopefully gives you time to work on reading, writing, speaking, listening, vocabulary, and grammar.

Given the large number of dialects and variants, you’ll also want to decide which type of Malay you’re going to learn. Most apps, courses, and textbooks will teach you standard bahasa Melayu, and for travelers and businesspeople, this might be the best option. However, if you’re planning a move to a specific location, such as Kuala Lumpur, Brunei, or Penang, you might want to also practice with vloggers, podcasts, and language exchanges with people from that area. This will help you get used to the local dialect quicker.

Malay’s accessible grammar system means it won’t take you too long to be able to create your own sentences. Start journaling to expand your vocabulary, improve your word recall, and reinforce the grammatical structures you’re learning.

Memorize vocabulary and affixes with flashcards and quizzes. While there are plenty of word lists online, consider creating additional ones about your interests, work, and experiences. After all, that’s probably what you’ll talk about in the most detail.

Radio, music, podcasts, TV… there are numerous ways to work on your listening. We’ve given a few recommendations in our resource sections, as well as ideas for reading in Malay.

As for speaking, this will be pretty easy if you live in a Malay-speaking area but might be challenging if you’re studying it as a foreign language. Check out our tips for finding online tutors and language exchanges below, and in the worst of cases, record yourself speaking at home. It might not help with your response time, but it will improve your spoken fluency and word recall.

Try to study frequently. A little every day is far more effective than three hours every Sunday.

Above all, have patience with yourself. Learning a language, even one that’s considered relatively easy takes time and can be frustrating. Progress might feel invisible, while it’s easy to forget words you knew last month. Yet as long as you keep studying, you will improve.

And if you ever get too demotivated, just go back to a task you did a few months earlier. You’ll be surprised by how easy it suddenly seems.

Where to Learn Malay

Malay Apps

Whether you’re aiming to grow your vocabulary, improve pronunciation or learn everyday Malay phrases, these apps offer a solid place to begin.

Ling

Ling is a gamified language-learning app with courses on over 60 different languages. Practice happens through short themed lessons, making for convenient and entertaining study time. It isn’t the most comprehensive resource out there, especially for more popular languages, but it can make a decent way to get started with a less common language.

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Lingodeer

Lingodeer may not be as well known as other language learning apps, but it’s actually better and cheaper than most of them. You’ll practice the language by completing lots of different types of exercises. They also include plenty of grammar explanations and opportunities to review what you’ve studied. All in all, it’s one of the better options for getting started learning a language.

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Anki

It is the go-to app for free (except on iOS) Spaced Repetition System (SRS) flashcards. It has a simple user interface with various features that more hard-core users can dive into if they choose. Your flashcards will appear according to your natural forgetting curve; the app will test you in increasingly spaced out intervals, with more difficult cards appearing more than once in a session, while easier cards spacing out over weeks — or even months and years. An SRS system is the most effective way to drive information into your long-term memory. The cards can sync between the web, desktop app, and mobile versions to keep your flashcards updated and with you at all times. You can add images and audio clips to your cards and change the text formatting (if you use it on your computer). One feature unique to Anki, as opposed to other SRS flashcard apps, is the “Cloze deletion” function, which allows you to block out parts of your card and create a “fill-in-the-blanks” type card format. If you want a resource for how to make effective flashcards, check out the book, FluentForever. The author leaves a whole section dedicated to understanding how to use your Anki deck to advance your skills quickly.

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Brainscape

Brainscape is a flashcard app that uses a Spaced Repetition System, also often referred to as ‘adaptive flashcards’, to help you memorize new vocabulary and facts. It has a team of scientists, engineers, and education experts working to optimize their program for effective learning. Brainscape is quite similar to Anki, but has a more modern and colourful interface. They also have Certified Classes, which are decks that seem to have been developed by experts in the chosen topic. The app adds what they call Intelligent Cumulative Exposure (ICE) to some of their Certified Classes; it seems to combine a Spaced Repetition System with gradually introducing new concepts, increasing the difficulty of the concepts, and providing context so you can build your own sentences.

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Forvo

Forvo’s mission is to improve spoken communication across cultures. Anyone can explore pronunciations of millions of words in over 390 languages with maps displaying where each speaker is from. The site also organizes popular categories and essential phrases for when you don’t have a specific word in mind. As a registered user, you can contribute to the site by pronouncing words or phrases in your native language or by requesting pronunciations in a specific language. You are also encouraged to vote on audio files in your native language to help others identify the best pronunciation. For those of you who enjoy using Anki, Forvo allows you to download mp3 files to use in your learning endeavours.

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Quizlet

Quizlet is a flashcard-based learning system. Community-contributed flashcards are available for numerous languages. These vary in quality, but you can preview them to see how well they meet your needs. Each set of flashcards powers other activities: In Learn mode, you demonstrate your mastery of each word or phrase by using multiple choice to select the correct definition. There are also spelling and writing exercises. The spelling exercises can be frustrating, as they sometimes require the addition of alternate word endings that are not always pronounced by the speaker. A space-themed word game and a “Concentration”-style matching game inject some extra fun into your study time. Recent changes to Quizlet mean that you are now required to sign in to use the flashcard sets.

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Simply Learn

In Simply Learn, by Simya Solutions, you can search for and review over 1000 phrases in over 30 categories. It takes the typical phrasebook app one step further by allowing you to add your favorite phrases to SRS flashcards. Given that its developers also developed Ling, an additional, more comprehensive resource that supports language learning, it seems that Simply Learn is a supplementary app for individuals who need to learn basic phrases for traveling abroad.  The creators don’t seem to have intended for people to use this app to learn a language in its entirety, but rather to support them in memorizing basic phrases for travel. 

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uTalk

uTalk is a software program and mobile app offering learning material in over 140 languages. Its approach is based on learning keywords and phrases through gameplay. It covers a wide range of phrases, each spoken by a female and male native speaker, consequently offering listening and pronunciation practice. uTalk is most useful for beginners who want to get started in a language by learning key phrases. It could also be useful for intermediates looking to fill gaps in their vocabulary and pronunciation, but it does not offer any in-depth language instruction or grammar explanations. It’s also worth mentioning that for some languages, such as Basque, the occasional overly literal translation leads to small errors and unnatural phrasing creeping in. However, we haven’t seen instances in which this would result in you being misunderstood, and there’s no denying uTalk’s value for languages with fewer learning resources.

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HiNative

HiNative is a Q&A app for language learners that want to have questions answered by native speakers. It’s available for iOS, Android and desktop, and it has over three million registered users. A free version is available that offers the basic features of the app.

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HelloTalk

HelloTalk is a mobile app for language learners interested in language exchange. It facilitates communication between native speakers and those learning their language with the use of built-in language tools. It also offers audio lessons in 10 languages as part of a separate subscription.

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Tandem

Tandem is a popular language exchange app with over one million active users. It’s available for iOS and Android and aims to bring language learners from all over the world together. It’s largely centered around its chat capabilities and language tools that facilitate communication, but there is also a tutoring service offered in the app.

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Learn Malay – Beginners, Nemo Malay, Malay flashcards and Malay – Listening Speaking are additional Malay language apps that are perfect if you’re a total beginner. And if you’re looking for apps to help you practice Jawi, check out Belajar Huruf Jawi Alif Ba Ta and Cari Kata Jawi.

Malay Courses

For more structure and depth, Malay courses and classes are a great way to buold a strong foundation and make steady progress in your learning.

Preply

Preply is an online educational platform that matches tutors with students. There are tutors on Preply offering instruction in a wide range of languages and other subjects. As a learner, you can find a tutor that works best for you by browsing their demo videos and filtering by price and rating. Each tutor’s teaching style is their own, but they all receive teacher trainings and resources to improve their style.

Exclusive 50% discount for ALR readers! Make sure to use our link to receive it.

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italki

italki is the most flexible and affordable place to find a tutor for the language you’re learning. They have a huge number of teachers offering classes to students of over 100 different languages. As a learner, you’ll be able to find a tutor that best fits your learning style, schedule, and personality. Teachers are able to set their own prices and make their own schedule.

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LingQ

LingQ is a language-learning platform that focuses on extensive reading for over 30 different languages. You can import your own content or choose from the community library of books, articles, podcasts, YouTube videos, and more.

The app highlights unknown words across every lesson and makes them reviewable via different types of SRS flashcards. The more you read, the more accurately you will be able to identify content that is suitable for your level.

Although I did not find it beneficial for languages I had never studied before, I think LingQ can be helpful for upper-beginner to advanced language learners who enjoy reading. It is especially helpful if you struggle to find graded readers in your target language.

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Mango Languages

Mango Languages is a pretty good resource with numerous languages available along with their regional variations.  It’ll work the best for beginners or for those interested in studying a few languages at the same time. Anybody past the intermediate level won’t find Mango Languages very useful.

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Transparent Language

Transparent Language markets itself as “the most complete language-learning system for independent learners.” While there are lots of different exercises for you to work through in their Essentials Course, I thought that the material wasn’t all that helpful and that it got very repetitive. Although the courses might not be all that useful or in-depth, with over a hundred languages on offer it might be worth checking out if you want to learn the very basics of a more obscure language such as Buriat, Kazakh or Turkmen.

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lingohut

Kendal and Philipp, the creators of the LingoHut, are passionate about teaching languages. Their website supposedly helps A1 and A2 language learners develop their confidence in listening and pronunciation. All audio clips were recorded by native speakers so that beginners can get accustomed to natural pronunciation, and each lesson has a series of matching games for listening comprehension and reading. Unfortunately, the creators’ genuine intention to support beginners doesn’t seem to translate into their lessons. The lessons are essentially a series of phrases that are not adapted to each language’s culture; each of the 50 languages use the exact same set of sentences and lesson formats. This means that you will learn how to say ‘dumpling’ both in Chinese and Italian. There is also no section to learn the script of languages such as Korean, Hindi, or Arabic, nor are there transliterations to help beginners sound out the pronunciation. Furthermore, some sentences switch between formal and informal language without explanation, which would not be intuitive for an A1 learner. If you want a free resource to listen to native speakers’ pronunciation of hundreds of common phrases, LingoHut is definitely a free option. However, there are other resources that can help you learn languages more effectively.

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lexilogos

Although Lexilogos seems to have entirely neglected its aesthetics, it holds more than meets the eye. If you click on one of the 130+ languages listed at the bottom of the page, you will find a series of resources to support your studies. This is especially useful for less-studied languages, like Marathi, Basque, and Pashto. Although the lists don’t provide recommendations for applications, they do provide a list of dictionaries, keyboards, news sites, books, and research papers. Additionally, if you switch to the French version of the site, there are even more languages and resources available for you to explore. Within each language’s page, there is also a dictionary search function. You will notice that more commonly studied languages will have dozens of dictionaries to choose from, while less commonly studied languages may only have one or two. Overall, Lexilogos is a great option for finding resources for less commonly studied languages. They regularly update their site, so make sure to check back if you don’t find what you’re looking for the first time around.

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Future Learn and University Malaya’s Beginner Malay Course are both beginner Malay courses to get you started.

Ilanguages, Mylanguages, Malay 101 course are websites that’ll help you with vocabulary, pronunciations and phrases while Cooljugator will help with verb conjugation.

Additional Malay Learning Resources

Consider adding a few more supplementary resources as you learn Malay. Some of these include Malay literature, music, and news.

Malay Textbooks and Reference Books

With its clear explanations, is a good base for learning Malay grammar and vocabulary. Every chapter contains exercises, but there are only a few sample dialogues throughout the book.

is well-loved by language learners, although the audio files have some incompatibility issues with the Kindle app. We recommend purchasing the paperback copy.

If you like the Colloquial Malay audio course series in the Podcast section, try pairing it with the Routledge textbook.

Alternatively, is dense but has plenty of examples and exercises to work through.

Skip  it’s poorly structured and contains errors, which adds up to a frustrating experience. Meanwhile, you might find in a second-hand bookstore. The problem is that many of its editions are filled with incredibly dated language. Want an insight into colonial-era Malaysia? Give it a read. Otherwise, we suggest avoiding this one.

Malay Fiction Books and Poetry

Given the multilingualism of the Malay peninsular, it can sometimes be hard to find modern books that were originally written in Malay rather than English, Chinese, or one of the many other widely spoken languages in the region. Bernice Chauly, for example, is one of Malaysia’s award-winning and most influential contemporary writers, yet even her books and poems about her country are yet to be translated into Malay.

Yet while you have more limited choices, you can still find compelling Malay literature – whether you’re looking for an action-packed page-turner or a poignant novel that will change the way you view the world.

In Singapore, Malay authors often wrote in English to avoid being labeled as Malaysian and so denied their cultural identity. Yet Isa Kamari and Suratman Markasan have earned their place as leaders of the Malay-language Singaporean literary scene.

Although you’ll probably have to read his work in bahasa Indonesia, Pramoedya Ananta Toer is a must-read. He created his most celebrated novels, the Buru Quartet, as a political prisoner, narrating them to his fellow inmates who helped him record the story and smuggle it out. While this series focuses on the Dutch colonization of Indonesia, his books are also praised for their representations of women and Chinese Indonesian people.

Bruneian writers are less well-known, both in and outside of the country. However, the country continues to produce prize-worthy literature in English and Malay. Try Hajah Norsiah binti Haji Abdul Gapar, whose novels Pengabdian and Anji kepada Inah won awards. She also received the S.E.A. Write Award in 2009.

And if you’re looking for Malaysian Malay-language writers, you’ve got several to choose from. Ramlee Awang Murshid is a prolific author whose books have won awards and some have been made into movies. His novels tend to be fantasy, adventure, historical, or some blend of the three, and are often described as “thrilling.”

Emy Roberto’s novels focus on relationships: what happens when marriages are unhappy, or a pregnancy is unwanted? Her relationship-oriented novellas will teach you plenty of useful, modern vocabulary.

If you’re struggling to buy some of these books from abroad, you can read plenty of Malay Pantun, a traditional poetic form, online. You can find some here. And if poetry’s not to your taste, try reading these children’s books.

Malay YouTube

YouTube is a gold mine when it comes to learning content. For Malay learners you’ll find videos for complete beginners and those for fluent speakers. Tina Amir’s channel has a huge library of instructional videos and covers everything from vocabulary and pronunciation to current affairs. Sierra Lisse teaches the basics and is frequently updated. She has also uploaded some word lists for the videos on her website. The channel Putori & Omak has basic Malay instructional videos which include illustrations and the Easy Malay YouTube series will help you pick up Malay by listening interviews with native speakers.

Here are some more YouTube channels that teach Malay:

• Cikgu Lan
• Learn Malay Language
• I Learn Malay
• Pinhok Languages Malay vocabulary playlist
• Kev’s World (a vlogger) has a Malay grammar playlist

Other Resources, from Malay Dictionaries to News Sites

Listening to Malay singers will help you pick up vocabulary. Pop lovers could listen to Siti Nurhaliza, Yuna, and Ning, while Hujan is a popular indie rock band.

Stay up to date on current affairs and improve your Malay vocabulary at the same time by reading the news. For Malaysian news, try Berita Harian, Astro Awani, and Malaysia Kini. Alternatively, if you prefer the radio to a news site, try the All Malaysian Radios FM app.

Most Indonesian news sites are in bahasa Indonesia rather than bahasa Melayu, but the good news is that you have a lot of options. Try Jawa Pos and Kompas, which are some of the largest papers.

Berita Harian is a Malay-language Singaporean news site. For a Bruneian perspective, you’ll want to read Media Permata.

That being said, given the widespread self-censorship, harsh punishments, and generally limited press freedom in Indonesia, Brunei, and Singapore, you might want to combine these sources with international news for a more balanced perspective. (Malaysia has historically had similarly poor press freedom, but there has been a dramatic decrease in journalist harassment and self-censorship over the past couple of years.)

Of course, with all this immersive reading and listening, you’re bound to come across unfamiliar words. Look them up in MalayCube, a Malay–English dictionary, and thesaurus combined. You can also search for English words in the Cambridge English–Malay Dictionary, but you won’t be able to check the meaning of Malay ones.

Although Malay pronunciation is relatively straightforward, you can also use the pronunciation dictionary Forvo to check how to say specific words.

Just like how there are more Malay speakers than you might think, there are also far more resources available to you. And with its relatively accessible grammar and pronunciation, it’s a rewarding language to study.

So, what are you waiting for? Download some of the apps and podcasts, try out the courses and movies, and begin learning how to speak Malay. Boleh!

Challenges of Learning Malay

Let’s keep it real—learning Malay is relatively straightforward, but there are still a few quirks:

• Similar Words, Different Meanings: Malay often relies on context. Bisa can mean “can” or “poison” depending on how it’s used!
• Politeness Levels: Malay has formal/informal registers. “Makan” (eat) becomes “santap” in polite settings. 
• Loanwords Galore: With words from Sanskrit, Arabic, Dutch, and English, it’s a linguistic buffet. Spotting “restoran” (restaurant) feels like a history lesson—but memorizing takes effort.

Why Malay Is Worth Learning

Whether you’re backpacking through Southeast Asia, exploring your heritage, or just itching to pick up a new language that’s practical and poetic, learning Malay is a win. It’s my kind of language. It’s practical, with no grammatical nightmares, and it opens doors to Southeast Asia’s food markets and historical gems.

It connects you to cultures that stretch across oceans and islands—from Malaysian food stalls to Bruneian mosques to Indonesian music festivals. It’s a language that opens doors without overwhelming complexity.

And let’s not forget the food. From nasi lemak to laksa, knowing the language makes every bite taste even better. You’ll not only know what you’re eating—you’ll understand why it matters.

For me, it’s not just about words; it’s about connecting the dots between cultures, cuisines, and centuries. So if you’re curious, hungry for culture (or just hungry), a history lover, or just someone who thinks everyone should dabble in foreign languages, the Malay language is a delicious challenge worth savoring. So, what do you say—ready to give it a taste?

Frequently Asked Questions