Learn Malay
Start learning Malay now with uTalk, the app that gets you speaking from the get-go. Whether you’re travelling, doing business, or having everyday conversations, uTalk helps you learn the words and phrases you actually need.
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Speak Malay like a local
You may want to learn Malay to connect with people in Malaysia, Singapore or Brunei. But it can be difficult to find language courses that focus on spoken Malay and real-life situations.
uTalk is the solution. We’ll help you avoid:
- Wasting time on grammar drills when what you really want to learn is basic Malay vocabulary for getting by in daily life
- Struggling with Malay language skills because lessons ignore how locals actually speak Bahasa Melayu
- Missing out on meaningful connections because you can’t communicate confidently in everyday conversations
Start learning Malay confidently. Open the door to new experiences.
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Why uTalk is the best Malay learning app
uTalk helps you master key Malay words and phrases so you learn how to speak fast. It’s app-based, available online and ready when you are.
Start in minutes
uTalk has practical content to help with greetings, family, travel and everyday spoken Malay. It’s perfect for beginners who want to start building their Malay vocabulary right away.
Get StartedPractise real phrases
Learn from locals with clear audio and pronunciation, not computer voices. Hear the language as it’s actually spoken across Malaysia and Singapore.
Speak like a local
The app’s game-like practice quickly builds your language skills and confidence. Short Malay lessons are focused and based on real-life situations you’ll encounter.
Three steps to learn Malay fast
No classes to schedule. No jargon. Just a clear path to achieving your goal.
Speak first
Subscribe now, download our app or open the web app. Choose Malay and select your first category.
Authentic speakers
Learn through short lessons that include native speaker audio and memory-boosting games. Reviews focus on the Malay words you get wrong so you pick up the vocabulary faster.
Beginner friendly, fun and effective
Try your new Malay in real life. Beginners and more experienced learners alike can build basic and practical spoken language skills and start enjoying meaningful experiences.
Learn Malay online – Common phrases and audio
uTalk helps you learn how to speak and recognise key words and phrases. It's app-based, online and ready when you are.
Tolong berikan saya kopi.
I’d like a coffee, please.
Helo.
Hello.
Ya.
Yes.
Baik, terima kasih.
Yes please.
Tidak.
No.
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Tak perlu, terima kasih.
No thanks.
Tolonglah.
Please.
Terima kasih.
Thank you.
Ribuan terima kasih.
Thank you very much.
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Sama-sama.
You’re welcome.
Tolong bawakan saya dua bir.
Two beers, please.
bas
bus
kereta
car
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teksi
taxi
kereta api
train
stesen kereta api
railway station
lapangan terbang
airport
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hotel
hotel
pasport
passport
telefon
telephone
Maafkan saya.
Excuse me.
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Pukul berapa sekarang?
What time is it?
Boleh ulang sekali lagi?
Can you repeat that please?
Tolong cakap lebih perlahan.
Please speak more slowly.
Saya tak faham.
I don’t understand.
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Maaf.
Sorry.
Di mana tandas?
Where are the toilets?
Tandas Wanita
Ladies’ Toilet
Tandas Lelaki
Gents’ Toilet
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Di mana pantai?
Where is the beach?
Di mana bank?
Where is the bank?
Berapa harganya?
How much does this cost?
kad kredit
credit card
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ATM
cash machine
Selamat tinggal.
Goodbye.
panadol
paracetamol
anak kunci
keys
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peta
map
kiri
left
kanan
right
satu
one
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dua
two
tiga
three
Fun facts | Malay
- 'Capital city' in Malay - ibu negara - literally translates as 'mother of the country'.
- The word ‘kaki’ can mean either foot or leg and is also used as a slang word for ‘connoisseur’ as in the phrase ‘kaki botol’ meaning a connoisseur of the bottle or alcoholic.
- A stubborn person is described as ‘frying pan ears’ - telinga kuali - because they seem deaf to other people’s opinions as though they had a frying pan covering each ear.
- Malay grammar is fairly simple, with no gender and no verb tenses. Plurals are indicated by simply repeating a word: ‘burung’ means ‘bird’ and ‘burung-burung’ means ‘birds’.
- Although Malay is very similar to Indonesian, there are some big differences in meaning. For example, 'buntut' means 'tail' in Indonesian but 'backside' in Malay! 'Sup buntut sapi' or Indonesian oxtail soup sounds more like 'ox buttocks soup' in Malay.
How our Malay language lessons work
Learning a new language should feel natural. You’ll begin by learning everyday greetings and common Malay words and then progress through useful categories such as family, numbers and travel. Each lesson is brief, engaging and designed for beginners. You’ll listen to native speaker audio and complete exercises on what you’ve studied to strengthen your memory. The review system focuses more on challenging vocabulary, helping you improve faster.
Select a category and the app arranges everything to ensure you have steady progress. The app automatically defaults to teaching you in the language of your device, but if another language works better for you, you can change it in Settings. Study online or download lessons for offline use when you don’t have an internet connection. Access uTalk on mobile or desktop. Switch between categories whenever you like so you follow the route that matches your needs. And if you need assistance,reach out to our support team. We’re a friendly UK-based company here to help.
Malay vs Bahasa Melayu vs Malaysian
Malay is the English name for the language spoken by over 33 million people in Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei and parts of Thailand. It’s the official language of Malaysia and one of four official languages in Singapore.
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Key points
- Bahasa Melayu is simply the term for the language in Malay itself. “Bahasa” means “language” and “Melayu” means “Malay”. So if you see the phrase “Learn Bahasa Melayu”, it literally means “Learn the language Malay”.
- The Malay that uTalk teaches is the standard version spoken in Malaysia and is also understood in Singapore. While Indonesian (Bahasa Indonesia) shares many similarities with Malay, they’re two separate languages with notable differences in vocabulary and usage.
How Malay compares with geographically similar languages
- Malay is widely spoken in Malaysia and Singapore and is an official language of both countries. It’s used by millions every day across Southeast Asia, so learning it helps you communicate with native speakers in multiple regions.
- Indonesian is a separate but closely related language. While Malay and Indonesian share similarities, there are important differences in vocabulary and pronunciation. For example, some similar words have different meanings, so it’s worth learning the specific language for where you’ll be speaking.
- There are also many other languages spoken in the region. uTalk has lessons for 150+ languages, including Indonesian, Javanese and Penang Hokkien, so you can explore options and even learn more than one language if you like.
"We help make learning Malay easy"
"Learning can feel frustrating when language courses don’t focus on the practical phrases you actually need. At uTalk, we recorded native speakers from Malaysia so you can learn the Malay language as it’s really spoken. We understand that language students want to start communicating quickly, so our lessons focus on everyday conversations rather than complex grammar rules."
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Richard Howeson
uTalk Founder
Why learners trust uTalk for Malay lessons
We strive to support languages from all over the world. The audio is recorded by native speakers so you hear how words are actually pronounced. You can learn in English or in more than 140 other languages. Check out our reviews and feedback to see how learners turn daily practice into real progress with their language skills.
Your Malay language learning journey
Maybe you’re planning to visit Malaysia or Singapore. Perhaps you want to communicate better with Malaysian friends or colleagues. Or you’re simply curious about a language spoken by over 33 million people across Southeast Asia. Finding Malay lessons that prioritise conversation over textbook learning can feel impossible, but it shouldn’t have to.
Get StartedThat’s where uTalk comes in. Pick a category that interests you or begin with First Words such as terima kasih (thank you). Build a foundation of practical Malay words and phrases you’ll actually use. Listen to recordings from native speakers, record your own voice and hear how they compare. The games keep things enjoyable for beginners as well as learners at intermediate levels. Learn on your phone, tablet or computer. Study online or download everything for offline use. Follow our suggested path or jump between categories as you please.
You’ll speak Malay with growing confidence. You’ll catch more of what locals say. And you’ll connect more naturally with people around you. It works with your schedule and goals.
Learn real-life topics in Malay
Explore the Austronesian language family
Malay belongs to the Austronesian language family, which stretches across Southeast Asia to the Pacific and even to Madagascar. If you’re curious about the similar words, sounds or everyday phrases in the family, check out Indonesian, Javanese, Filipino (Tagalog), Ilocano, Cebuano (Bisaya), Fijian, Samoan, Hawaiian, Māori and Malagasy.
These languages share historical roots and often have similar vocabulary and phonetic patterns, so learning one language alongside another might be helpful.
Get StartedYour Malay questions, answered
Do you offer live online classes or is it just an app?
uTalk is an app and online language learning software. Lessons are digital, short and practical. If you want a tutor, the app still helps you prepare for class and review between sessions.
Can I start as a beginner?
Yes. The course begins with basic greetings and everyday words and phrases and takes you to an A1-A2 level on the CEFR scale. Some of our topics even cover material you’d learn as you grow your skills to B1 or B2.
What application languages do you support? Can I learn without English?
Yes. uTalk works for speakers of more than 140 languages. Choose the one that suits you in Settings.
How is content selected and ordered?
Topics are based on real life situations. You can select any category and the app suggests a smart learning order for beginners. You can change it at any time.
How does uTalk compare with YouTube lessons?
YouTube can be useful, but it’s hard to check pronunciation or get structured reviews. uTalk gives you native speaker audio, games that test tricky words more often and a clear path from basic to practical use.
Is Malay easy to learn for English speakers?
Yes. Malay grammar is fairly simple, as it has no gender and no verb tenses. Plurals are indicated by simply repeating a word. The straightforward grammar and alphabet make it one of the easier languages for English speakers to start learning.
How fast can I learn to speak Malay?
Staying consistent with short, regular sessions every day works best. Many uTalk learners are able to have simple conversations after a few weeks of regular practice. How fast you learn will depend on how often you use the app, how much you review and how focused you are on speaking.
What’s the difference between Malay and Indonesian?
While Malay and Indonesian have many similarities, they’re treated as separate languages. There are some notable differences in vocabulary and usage. For example, some similar words have completely different meanings in each language, so it’s worth learning the right version for where you want to go.
Can I learn Malay for free with uTalk?
Getting started with uTalk is easy, and you can cancel whenever you want. We want you to love uTalk, so we even offer a 28-Day Money Back Guarantee if you’re not completely satisfied.
Where is Malay spoken?
Malay is spoken in Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei and parts of Thailand by over 33 million people. It’s the official language of Malaysia and one of four official languages in Singapore, so it’s widely used by locals and expats.
Where can I learn Malay with uTalk?
We’re available on iOS, Android, web, Mac and PC. Get started now and you’ll be directed to download uTalk for your device.
Topics
- First Words
- Transport
- Restaurant
- Food and Drink
- Cooking
- Places
- Directions
- Illness
- Doctor
- Body
- Emergencies
- Social Phrases
- Leisure
- Likes and Dislikes
- Football Match Abroad
- Football Commentary
- Sports
- Shopping Words
- Fruit
- Vegetables
- Clothes
- Ingredients
- Home
- Bathroom
- Kitchen
- Tools
- Family
- Occupations
- Animals
- Animals' Bodies
- Farming
- Technology
- School
- Business
- Numbers up to Twenty
- Numbers up to Ten Million
- Essential Phrases
- Adjectives
- Prepositions
- Colours
- Countries
- Calendar
- Time
- Timetable
- Outdoors
- Holiday
- Skiing
- Camping
- Golf
- Sailing
- Driving
- Olympics
- Summer Olympics
- Winter Olympics
- Military Commands
- Military Peace Keeping
- Military Intelligence
- Accommodation
- Shopping Phrases
- Travelling
- Free Starter Words
- Disaster Relief - Volunteers
- Natural Disasters
Get by with basic greetings, words and phrases including 'hello', 'thank you' and 'I'd like a coffee please'.