Money & Exchange

1. Di mana mesin ATM yang terdekat?

   Di ma-na me-sin ATM yang ter-de-kat?

   Where is the nearest ATM?

   Usage

   Used when you need to find a cash machine

   Grammar Note

   Malaysian ATMs from Maybank, CIMB, Public Bank are widely available. Visa and Mastercard are broadly accepted.

2. Boleh tukar wang asing di sini?

   Bo-leh tu-kar wang a-sing di si-ni?

   Can I exchange foreign currency here?

   Usage

   Asking to exchange currency at a bureau de change or bank

   Grammar Note

   "Wang" (money) may derive from Sanskrit "vāṇij". Ask the rate: "Kadar pertukaran hari ini berapa?" (What is today's rate?).

3. Berapa harga ini?

   Be-ra-pa har-ga i-ni?

   How much does this cost?

   Usage

   Asking the price of an item at a market or shop

   Grammar Note

   The simplest price-asking phrase. "Ini berapa?" works the same way. Malaysian Ringgit (RM) is the currency.

4. Boleh bayar dengan kad kredit?

   Bo-leh ba-yar de-ngan kad kre-dit?

   Can I pay with a credit card?

   Usage

   Checking whether card payment is accepted

   Grammar Note

   "Bayar" (to pay) may trace to Sanskrit. Alternatives: "bayar tunai" (cash payment), "bayar kad" (card payment).

5. Boleh beri diskaun sedikit?

   Bo-leh be-ri dis-kaun se-di-kit?

   Can you give a small discount?

   Usage

   Bargaining politely at a market or street stall

   Grammar Note

   Bargaining (tawar-menawar) is normal at markets like Petaling Street. "Mahal sangat" (too expensive) strengthens your negotiation.

6. Tolong bagi baki

   To-long ba-gi ba-ki

   Please give me the change

   Usage

   Asking for your change after a purchase

   Grammar Note

   "Baki" (remainder) is from Arabic "bāqī". If you want to tip, say "Baki tak payah la" (Keep the change).

7. Adakah bayaran perkhidmatan dikenakan?

   A-da-kah ba-yar-an per-khid-mat-an di-ke-na-kan?

   Is a service charge applied?

   Usage

   Checking whether a service charge is included, common at Malaysian restaurants

   Grammar Note

   Many Malaysian restaurants add a 10% service charge to bills. A 6% SST (Sales and Service Tax) may also apply.

8. Boleh keluarkan resit?

   Bo-leh ke-lu-ar-kan re-sit?

   Could you give me a receipt?

   Usage

   Requesting a receipt for a purchase

   Grammar Note

   "Resit" is a phonetic borrowing from English "receipt". Distinguish from "invois" (formal invoice).

9. Ada wang syiling?

   A-da wang syi-ling?

   Do you have coins?

   Usage

   Asking if someone has coins or small change

   Grammar Note

   "Syiling" is borrowed from English "shilling". Contrast with "wang kertas" (paper money/notes).

10. Jumlah kesemuanya berapa?

    Jum-lah ke-se-mu-a-nya be-ra-pa?

    What is the total amount?

    Usage

    Confirming the total amount to pay

    Grammar Note

    "Jumlah" (total, from Arabic) is formal. Colloquial alternative: "Berapa semuanya?" (how much altogether?).

11. Deposit

    Usage

    A deposit held by a hotel or rental, returned at checkout

12. Bayaran balik

    Refund

    Usage

    Word for getting money returned

13. Wang cagaran

    Security deposit

    Usage

    A deposit held against damage, a more formal term than "deposit"

14. Bayaran pendahuluan

    Prepayment

    Usage

    Word for money paid in advance

15. Caj tambahan

    Extra charge

    Usage

    Word for a charge added on afterward

16. Caj perkhidmatan

    Service fee

    Usage

    Word for a fee charged for a procedure or service

17. Tunai

    Cash

    Usage

    Cash as a payment method — stalls and small shops are often cash-only

18. Kad

    Card (payment)

    Usage

    Card as a payment method; "kad" covers any kind of card, so show it at the till alongside "tunai" to make the choice clear

19. Bayar sama rata

    Split the bill evenly

    Usage

    Ask for the bill to be divided equally between everyone

20. Bayar sekali gus

    Pay it all at once

    Usage

    Say you are paying for everyone in one go

21. Duit baki

    Change (money back)

    Usage

    Ask for your change; "baki" alone can also mean a remaining balance

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