Basic Nouns

1. Air

   A-ir

   Water

   Usage

   The basic word for drinking water; works with a gesture

2. Makanan

   Ma-ka-nan

   Food

   Usage

   The general word to use when you are looking for something to eat

3. Duit

   Du-it

   Money

   Usage

   The basic word when talking about paying or changing money

4. Tandas

   Tan-das

   Toilet

   Usage

   This single word is usually enough for someone to point the way

   Grammar Note

   In Malaysia the toilet is tandas; toilet is also understood

5. Tisu

   Ti-su

   Tissue

   Usage

   For asking for paper at an eatery or a public toilet

6. Ubat

   U-bat

   Medicine

   Usage

   The general word to lead with at a pharmacy

7. Bagasi

   Ba-ga-si

   Luggage

   Usage

   For storing, carrying, or collecting your bags

8. Kunci

   Kun-ci

   Key

   Usage

   At a hotel front desk when handing over or collecting a key

9. Tiket

   Ti-ket

   Ticket

   Usage

   Covers both travel tickets and entry tickets

10. Pasport

    Pas-port

    Passport

    Usage

    Comes up at check-in, money changers, and immigration

11. Telefon

    Te-le-fon

    Phone

    Usage

    Used both for the device and for making a call

12. Pengecas

    Pe-nge-cas

    Charger

    Usage

    When you want to borrow one at a hotel or café, or buy one

13. Stesen

    Ste-sen

    Station

    Usage

    The most common landmark word when asking for directions

14. Hospital

    Hos-pi-tal

    Usage

    The first word to say when you feel seriously unwell

15. Polis

    Po-lis

    Police

    Usage

    Who to ask for after a theft or an accident

16. Kedai

    Ke-dai

    Shop

    Usage

    The general word when asking where you can buy something

17. Bilik

    Bi-lik

    Room

    Usage

    For booking, changing, or checking availability at a hotel

18. Jalan

    Ja-lan

    Road

    Usage

    For asking the way, usually while showing a map

19. Keluarga

    Ke-lu-ar-ga

    Family

    Usage

    Comes up constantly in introductions and small talk

20. Nama

    Na-ma

    Name

    Usage

    For confirming a booking or introducing yourself

21. Kepala

    Ke-pa-la

    Head

    Usage

    Point at the head as the painful part

22. Mata

    Ma-ta

    Eye

    Usage

    Point at the eye when it is the problem

23. Gigi

    Gi-gi

    Tooth

    Usage

    Point at it at a dentist or pharmacy for tooth pain

24. Tekak

    Te-kak

    Throat

    Usage

    The throat for a sore throat; the outside of the neck is "leher"

25. Perut

    Pe-rut

    Stomach

    Usage

    Point at the belly for stomach pain

26. Belakang badan

    Be-la-kang ba-dan

    Back (of the body)

    Usage

    The back of the body; "belakang" alone also means "behind/rear", so "badan" pins it down

27. Pinggang

    Ping-gang

    Lower back / waist

    Usage

    Point at the lower back for pain there

28. Kaki

    Ka-ki

    Leg / foot

    Usage

    Covers the whole leg and foot, so point at the exact spot on your own body

29. Tangan

    Ta-ngan

    Hand

    Usage

    Can stretch to cover the whole arm; use "lengan" if you mean the arm only

30. Dada

    Da-da

    Chest

    Usage

    The chest / ribcage area — for chest pain or breathing trouble

31. Kereta bomba

    Ke-re-ta bom-ba

    Fire engine

    Usage

    The vehicle the fire brigade uses to put out fires; "bomba" is the fire brigade and a fire station is "balai bomba"

32. Konsulat

    Kon-su-lat

    Consulate

    Usage

    The residence or head office of a consul; an embassy is "kedutaan"

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