Speak Malay Like a Local – Lesson 7 : Name, Age, Where You’re From & Ways of Saying ‘I’

MALAY			ENGLISH

Nama saya Lisa		:	My name is Lisa
	Nama	:		Name
	Saya	:		I

Nama kawan saya Adam		:	My friend’s name is Adam
	Nama	:		Name
	Kawan	:		Friend
	Saya	:		I

Umur saya tiga puluh tahun		:	I am thirty years old
	Umur	:		Age
	Saya	:		I
	Tiga Puluh	:		Thirty
	Tahun	:		Year

Saya datang dari …		:	I come from…
	Saya	:		I
	Datang	:		Come
	Dari	:		From

Saya orang Itali tapi saya datang dari US		:	I am Italian but I come from the US
	Saya	:		I
	Orang	:		Person
	Tapi	:		But
	Saya	:		I
	Datang	:		Come
	Dari	:		From

Ways of Saying I

1) Saya

Most appropriately used with strangers and for formal occasions
Very polite
If used with friends, it can sound a little distant as many favour ‘Aku’ instead

2) Aku

Commonly used with people you are familiar with
Caution: It sounds quite rough and can be misconstrued as being disrespectful and rude

3) Kita

The literal meaning is ‘We’
Favoured by school children
Used by adults who want to sound affectionate
I do not recommend using ‘kita’ as a way to say ‘I’ as it can come across as childish