Written by cmlabs | Last updated at Jun 13, 2024
NO. 00284/PP/CID/VI/2024
| Can | Yes/Alright/Able |
| Cannot | No/No, I can't/Unable |
| One hundred over, one thousand over etc. | Over one hundred, over one thousand etc. |
Meh/Ke An optional suffix usually used to donate a question mark to yes, as in "yeah meh?" or "ye ke?" i.e. "Are you sure?", with the former being more commonly used amongst those of Chinese descent and the latter by Malays. | No equivalent. |
Mar Mostly used as a suffix. Derived from Chinese. For example, a person would say "I didn't know mar"; which somewhat has the same meaning as "I didn't know la" but is softer than "la". When the person says "I didn't know mar", it indirectly states that the person is being apologetic about not knowing something. | No equivalent. |
Ar An optional suffix usually used to donate a question mark, as in "Sure ar?" or "Are you sure ar?", i.e. "Are you sure?" | No equivalent. |
Lah/La A popular suffix to phrases and sentences. Originates from both Malay and Chinese where its usage is grammatically correct, for instance, (Cantonese) "M hou gam yeung la" would literally mean "Don't be like that", except that there is an extra word at the end, "la". Another example: "cannot, lah", i.e."Sorry that's not possible." and "Rest some more-lah.", i.e. "Please rest for a while longer,"; It is important to note that the tone of which the prefix is spoken greatly affects the context of the statement. Example, saying "Okay -lah" while squinting one eye and hesitating the -lah, would be to give a mediocre opinion about something (as in "The food was okay-lah"). Meanwhile, to say a short increasing pitched -lah as in "Okay -lah. We'll all go to Ipoh later", would be to agree about something. "Lah" is also generally used to soften an otherwise angry/stern tone, such as: "Stop it lah" as opposed to just an abrupt "Stop it!", or "Don't be like that la" as opposed to "Don't be like that". It is usually perceived as less insulting when a "lah" is added in sentences such as those, and typically means that the person uttering the sentence is not angry, unless of course, it is said in a harsh tone. | No equivalent. |
Gostan To reverse, especially in the context of driving motor vehicles. A contraction of the term "go astern" (Mostly used in states of Penang and Kedah). | To reverse, to go backwards |
| Where got? | Really? (I don't think so.) |
Malaysian | British / American |
| Handphone (often abbreviated to HP) | Mobile phone or Cell phone |
| Brinjal | Aubergine/Eggplant |
| KIV (keep in view) | Kept on file, held for further consideration |
| Outstation | Means both "out of town" and/or "overseas/abroad". |
| MC (medical certificate). Often used in this context, e.g. 'He is on MC today' | Sick note |
| Can | Yes/Alright/Able |
| Cannot | No/No, I can't/Unable |
| One hundred over, one thousand over etc. | Over one hundred, over one thousand etc. |
| Share Market | Stock Market |
| Remisier | Stockbroker |
Malaysians primarily use Malay in media, whether through written and verbal communication. However, like Indonesians, Malaysians are used to communicating in English. When it comes to writing, English (UK) is widely used due to the country’s history with the United Kingdom.
Here are some examples of writing rules for numbers found in Malaysian websites:
As for naming conventions, Malaysians use patronymics (Malay) and family names (Chinese). Here are the rules to address Malaysians properly in written texts:
* Addressed by the first name
* Addressed by the surname
Though Malaysians don’t primarily use English to communicate, most Malaysians, particularly those who live in big cities, are familiar with English texts. Our SEO content targeted for Malaysia can still be written in English as long as we ensure its relevance to local values. For example, if we use keywords like “best fresh food," we should make a list of local foods that are available in the market instead of foreign cuisines that are completely unrelated to Malaysian culture.
When communicating their means, Malaysians tend to prioritize politeness to maintain harmonious relations. Therefore, an indirect style of writing is preferred. Assertive words to state their point of view are often used instead of direct negative responses when met with disagreement or disapproval.
To put it simply, respect is the key to formal Malaysian communication. In delivering content, it’s recommended to explain the context of the situation clearly and concisely. Additionally, a soft, non aggressive tone may need to be used to help engage the audience.