Nouns form the backbone of any language, giving us the words for people, places, ideas, and things we encounter every single day. The same thing applies to Bahasa Melayu, where its nouns are called kata nama in Malay. Understanding Malay nouns are crucial for those who are simply learning the language, traveling to Malay for leisure or work, and wanting to effectively communicate with the locals.
Some basic Malay nouns include umur (age), pokok (tree), food (makanan), and cinta (love). In general, Malay nouns are divided into six types: common nouns, proper nouns, abstract nouns, concrete nouns, as well as countable and uncountable nouns. Let’s look at each of these and learn how you can use them in your daily speech.
Table Of Contents
Malay Common Nouns (Kata Nama Am)
As mentioned earlier, common nouns refer to words that represent people, places, animals, things, ideas, and concepts. Malay nouns are always written in lowercase letters, except at the start of a sentence. Below are some examples of common nouns in Malay:
| English | Malay |
|---|---|
| Book | Buku |
| Teacher | Guru |
| Grass | Rumput |
| Beach | Pantai |
| Love | Cinta |
| Family | Keluarga |
| Police station | Balai polis |
| Son | Anak lelaki |
These examples resemble a few specific types of Malay nouns. Keep reading to discover the different noun categories.
Malay Concrete Nouns (Kata Nama Am Konkrit)
In general, Malay nouns consist of two categories; concrete nouns and abstract nouns
Concrete nouns refers to Malay nouns that are visible and tangible, and they can be living things or non-living things.
Concrete Nouns: Living Things (Humans)
| English | Malay |
|---|---|
| Mother | Ibu |
| Teacher | Guru |
| Grandfather | Datuk |
| Soldier | Askar |
| Person | Orang |
| Student | Pelajar |
Concrete Nouns: Living Things (Non-Humans)
| English | Malay |
|---|---|
| Tree | Pokok |
| Cow | Lembu |
| Cat | Kucing |
| Tiger | Harimau |
Concrete Nouns: Non-Living Things
| English | Malay |
|---|---|
| School | Sekolah |
| Castle | Istana |
| Kindergarten | Tadika |
| Book | Buku |
| Telephone | Telefon |
| Beach | Pantai |
Malay Abstract Nouns (Kata Nama Am Abstrak)
Malay abstract nouns, on the contrary, refer to things or concepts that can’t be perceived by the senses like ideas, qualities, and entities that are physically intangible.
| English | Malay |
|---|---|
| Angel | Malaikat |
| Happiness | Kebahagiaan |
| Love | Cinta |
| Dream | Mimpi |
| Truth | Kebenaran |
| Opinion | Pendapat |
| Justice | Keadilan |
Malay Proper Nouns (Kata Nama Khas)
An interesting fact about the Malay language is that it does not use grammatical genders. But there are some words used for a natural or neutral gender, and the same word is used for masculine and feminine genders, seen in many languages like English. In Malay nouns, most words referring to people have one form that does not differentiate between sexes.
In Malay, proper nouns (known as kata nama khas), refer to specific names of people, places, languages, animals, and so on. In written form, the first letter of a proper noun must be capitalized. And similar to concrete nouns, Malay proper nouns consist of living (human and non-humans) as well as non-living categories.
Proper Nouns: Living Things (Humans)
| English | Malay |
|---|---|
| Hang Tuah | Hang Tuah |
| Tengku Emran | Tengku Emran |
| Malaysian Prime Minister | Perdana Menteri Malaysia |
Proper Nouns: Living Things (Non-Humans)
| English | Malay |
|---|---|
| Pak Belang (folklore) | Pak Belang |
| Sang Kancil (folklore) | Sang Kancil |
| Si Comel (pet’s name) | Si Comel |
Proper Nouns: Non-Living Things
| English | Malay |
|---|---|
| Malay (race) | Melayu |
| Singapore (country) | Singapura |
| Petronas Twin Tower (landmark) | Menara Berkembar Petronas |
| Perodua Ativa (Malaysian brand car) | Perodua Ativa |
Gender In Malay Nouns
In Bahasa Malaysia, the nouns do not have gender associations, which simplifies learning for non-native speakers. Gender-specific references are used only when intended.
Gender-Neutral Nouns
| English | Malay |
|---|---|
| Teacher | Guru |
| Doctor | Doktor |
| Lawyer | Peguam |
| Salesperson | Jurujual |
Gender-Specific Nouns
| English | Malay |
|---|---|
| Male teacher | Guru lelaki |
| Female doctor | Doktor perempuan |
| Granddaughter | Cucu perempuan |
Plurality in Malay Nouns
In Malay, plurality are formed by repeating a word, either partially or completely, to create a new meaning (or sometimes give emphasis to the original meaning). Reduplication, which is called kata ganda, is a common morphological process in the language.
| English | Malay |
|---|---|
| Books | Buku-buku |
| Houses | Rumah-rumah |
| Children | Anak-anak |
| Guests | Tetamu |
| Fingers | Jejari |
| Dishes | Lauk-pauk |
| Mountains | Gunung-ganang |
Pronouns (Kata Ganti Nama)
Malay pronouns are also a part of nouns, consisting of three parts as shown below:
Indefinite Pronouns (Kata Ganti Nama Tak Tentu)
- Whatever – Apa-apa
- Whichever – Mana-mana
- Whenever – Bila-bila
- Whoever – Siapa-siapa
Demonstrative Pronouns (Kata Ganti Nama Tunjuk)
- This – Ini
- That – Itu
- Like this – Begini
- Like that – Begitu
Interrogative Pronouns (Kata Ganti Tanya)
- What? – Apa?
- Who? – Siapa?
- When? – Bila?
- How? – Bagaimana?
- Why? – Kenapa?
Yes, these components of Malay grammar can be quite a lot, but with the right resources and tools, you’ll soon get the hang of it! How? I’d suggest getting help from language apps like Ling app. It’s a good tool to kick start your learning progress and learn how you can use Malay nouns correctly in your writing and speech, so you can communicate more effectively in Malay. This is crucial as it helps you understand the meanings of Malay words and phrases more easily, making it easier for you to read and comprehend written texts in this language.
How Do You Say Nouns In Malay Language?
In Malay, nouns are called kata nama, which is a combination of kata (word) and nama (name). Similar to English, there are various types of Malay nouns including common nouns, proper nouns, abstract nouns, and concrete nouns.
Other Important Vocabulary For Malay Nouns
| English | Malay |
|---|---|
| People | Orang |
| Places | Tempat |
| Things | Benda |
| Animals | Haiwan |
| Family | Keluarga |
| Food and drink | Makanan dan minuman |
Frequently Asked Questions For Malay Nouns
Does Malay Have Gendered Nouns?
No, the Malay language doesn’t have gendered nouns because the language is gender-neutral. Therefore, there are no distinctions in nouns based on gender. When specifying gender is necessary, additional words are used to indicate male or female.
What Are Noun Classifiers In Malay?
Noun classifiers, or penjodoh bilangan in Malay, are words used to classify nouns, particularly when specifying their quantities. These quantifiers are essential when quantifying objects, and to provide more specific information about the nouns they describe. Examples of common nouns classifiers include sebuah kereta (a car), seorang guru (a teacher), sehelai baju (a shirt), and sebatang pen (a pen).
What Are The Common Nouns In Malay?
Some common nouns in Malay are cinta (love), makanan (food), gambar (picture), and kucing (cat).
Conquered Malay Nouns? Here’s What To Learn Next!
Go ahead and master Malay nouns with Ling app. It will speed up your progress and boost your language skills. Once you’ve got a handle on these nouns, don’t shy away from chatting with the locals and native Malay speakers. Another awesome tip is by immersing yourself in Malay media. Give it a shot; listen to Malay songs, watch Malay movies and see how much improvement you make alongside your daily practice using the Ling app.
