Feelings

1. Gembira

   Happy / Glad

   Usage

   The standard Malay word for gladness. "Gembira berjumpa dengan awak" means "pleased to meet you"

2. Bahagia

   Happy (deeply)

   Usage

   Deeper than "gembira" — the happiness of a life or a marriage. Used in wedding congratulations

3. Teruja

   Excited

   Usage

   Common in Malaysia and rarely heard in Indonesia. It is the feeling of looking forward to something

4. Bangga

   Proud

   Usage

   Works as praise too: "saya bangga dengan awak" means "I am proud of you"

5. Lega

   Relieved

   Usage

   For when a lost item turns up, or you arrive safely after all

6. Tenang

   Calm

   Usage

   Describes your own state, and also works as "calm down" said to someone else

7. Sayang

   To love / cherish

   Usage

   "Saya sayang awak" expresses affection for family or a partner. The same word also means "what a waste" and works as a term of endearment, so watch the context

8. Cinta

   Love (romantic)

   Usage

   Romantic love. In Malaysia "sayang" is the everyday choice, while "cinta" belongs to songs and poetry

9. Rindu

   Miss (someone)

   Usage

   "Saya rindu awak" means "I miss you". Indonesians often say "kangen" in speech, but in Malaysia "rindu" is the normal word

10. Sedih

    Sad

    Usage

    Sadness in general. "Saya sedih dengar" is a way of saying "I'm sorry to hear that"

11. Kecewa

    Disappointed

    Usage

    A calm way to register dissatisfaction — more effective than raising your voice

12. Kesepian

    Lonely

    Usage

    For the loneliness of solo travel, built from "sepi" (deserted, lonely)

13. Marah

    Angry

    Usage

    Openly showing anger is taken seriously in Malaysia — save this word for when you really mean it

14. Geram

    Exasperated

    Usage

    A more inward irritation than "marah" — the feeling of being stuck in traffic or kept waiting. It can also mean "so cute I can't stand it"

15. Takut

    Afraid

    Usage

    Add the thing you fear: "takut anjing" means "afraid of dogs"

16. Terkejut

    Startled / Shocked

    Usage

    For a sudden shock. The "ter-" prefix marks something that happened to you rather than by choice

17. Risau

    Worried

    Usage

    "Jangan risau" means "don't worry" — the standard word in Malaysia. Indonesian uses "khawatir"

18. Tertekan

    Stressed / Under pressure

    Usage

    Literally "pressed down". In speech people also say "stres", from English

19. Malu

    Embarrassed / Shy

    Usage

    Covers embarrassment and shyness alike. Avoiding "malu" — keeping face — matters a great deal in Malay culture

20. Bosan

    Bored

    Usage

    Bored or fed up. Avoid aiming it at something your host arranged

21. Penat

    Tired

    Usage

    The everyday word in Malaysia. Indonesians say "capek" and rarely use "penat"

22. Mengantuk

    Sleepy

    Usage

    What you feel after a night bus or a dawn flight. Sometimes shortened to "ngantuk" in speech

23. Saya sihat

    I'm well

    Usage

    The standard reply to "apa khabar?". Malaysia spells it "sihat", Indonesia "sehat"

24. Saya tidak sihat

    I'm not well

    Usage

    What to say when you cannot name the problem. In speech it becomes "tak sihat"

25. Terharu

    Moved / Touched

    Usage

    For being moved by kindness or by a view. Saying it in thanks for hospitality lands well

26. Keliru

    Confused

    Usage

    Show it when you are lost or stuck with paperwork. It corresponds to Indonesian "bingung"

27. Bersyukur

    Grateful

    Usage

    Add it to "terima kasih" after someone helps you. In Muslim culture it also carries gratitude to God, and it lands well with anyone

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