Numbers

1. Satu, dua, tiga

   Sa-tu, du-a, ti-ga

   One, two, three

   Usage

   Basic numbers in Malay

   Grammar Note

   Identical number system to Indonesian (satu, dua, tiga...). Common vocabulary across the Austronesian family.

2. Empat, lima, enam

   Em-pat, li-ma, e-nam

   Four, five, six

   Usage

   Malay numbers 4 to 6

   Grammar Note

   These numbers are identical to Indonesian. Malay and Indonesian have completely matching number systems.

3. Tujuh, lapan, sembilan, sepuluh

   Tu-juh, la-pan, sem-bi-lan, se-pu-luh

   Seven, eight, nine, ten

   Usage

   Malay numbers 7 to 10

   Grammar Note

   "Lapan" (eight) is Malay-specific, unlike Indonesian "delapan". Other numbers are shared with Indonesian.

4. Seratus

   Se-ra-tus

   One hundred

   Usage

   One hundred, used in prices and quantities

   Grammar Note

   "Se-" is the prefix form of "satu" (one). Pattern: "seratus" (100), "seribu" (1000), "sejuta" (million).

5. Pertama

   Per-ta-ma

   First

   Usage

   Ordinal number meaning first

   Grammar Note

   "Pertama" from Sanskrit "prathama". For subsequent ordinals: "kedua" (second), "ketiga" (third) using "ke-" prefix.

6. Sebelas, dua belas, tiga belas

   Se-be-las, dua be-las, ti-ga be-las

   Eleven, twelve, thirteen

   Usage

   Malay numbers 11 to 13

   Grammar Note

   "Belas" forms teen numbers 11–19. Unlike English, it's not "ten one" but "sebelas". "Puluh" forms multiples of ten (20–90).

7. Dua puluh, lima puluh, seratus

   Dua pu-luh, li-ma pu-luh, se-ra-tus

   Twenty, fifty, one hundred

   Usage

   Numbers used in shopping and price negotiation

   Grammar Note

   "Puluh" forms multiples of ten. "Ribu" = thousand, "juta" = million. Useful for Malaysian Ringgit prices.

8. Berapa ringgit?

   Be-ra-pa ring-git?

   How many ringgit?

   Usage

   Asking the price in Malaysian ringgit

   Grammar Note

   "Ringgit" (MYR) is Malaysia's currency. 1 ringgit = 100 sen. "Lima puluh ringgit" = 50 ringgit.

9. Jam berapa sekarang?

   Jam be-ra-pa se-ka-rang?

   What time is it now?

   Usage

   Asking for the current time

   Grammar Note

   Time expressions: "Jam tiga" (3 o'clock), "Jam dua belas" (12 o'clock). "Setengah" means half past.

10. Satu dozen

    Sa-tu do-zen

    One dozen (twelve)

    Usage

    Specifying quantity at a market or shop

    Grammar Note

    "Dozen" is an English loanword; "sedozen" (one dozen) is also written as a single word.

11. Umur saya dua puluh tujuh tahun

    U-mur sa-ya du-a pu-luh tu-juh ta-hun

    I'm 27 years old

    Usage

    How to answer "Awak umur berapa?" (how old are you?). "Saya berumur dua puluh tujuh tahun" is a slightly more formal variant

    Grammar Note

    Possession is "noun + possessor", so "umur saya" is "my age". Ten is "sepuluh", twenty "dua puluh", and 21–29 are "dua puluh + unit". No copula is used. An older series builds 21–29 with "likur", as in "tujuh likur" (27).

12. Tahun ini umur saya dua puluh lapan tahun

    Ta-hun i-ni u-mur sa-ya du-a pu-luh la-pan ta-hun

    I turn 28 this year

    Usage

    Putting "Tahun ini" (this year) at the front is enough to mean "I turn … this year"

    Grammar Note

    "Ini" (this) follows its noun, so "tahun ini" is "this year"; the same shape gives "minggu ini" (this week) and "bulan ini" (this month). Only the time expression is added at the front; the age phrase (umur + possessor + number + tahun) is unchanged.

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