มาเลย์
maa-leeMeanings
1AdjectiveA2
Malay
Relating to the Malay people, their culture, or their language.
Examples
นี่nîiนี่nîi1this (colloq.)2this; this one (pronoun)3here4here is…; look/listen (attention-getter)5you see; after all (colloq.)คือkʉʉคือkʉʉ1to be (definition/identification)2namely; that is; i.e.อาหารaa-hǎanอาหารaa-hǎan1food; nourishment2dish; meal3diet; what one eatsมาเลย์maa-leeมาเลย์maa-lee1Malay2Malaysia3Malay (person)4Malay (language)
This is Malay food.
3 more examplesShow less
I like the Malay style wedding dress.
This event also has a Malay cultural performance.
การรำgaan-ramแบบbɛ̀ɛpมาเลย์maa-leeมีเอกลักษณ์mii-èek-gà-lákเฉพาะตัวchà-pɔ́-dtuuaและlɛ́สวยงามsǔuai-ngaamมากmâak
Malay-style dance has a unique identity and is very beautiful.
2NounA2
Malaysia
A colloquial name for the country of Malaysia.
Examples
เขาkǎoเขาkǎo1he; she; him; her2they; them (context-dependent)3horn4mountain; hillไปเที่ยวbpai-tîiaoไปเที่ยวbpai-tîiao1[to] go out for fun; hang out; visit (for fun)2[to] travel for leisure; go on a trip; go sightseeingมาเลย์maa-leeมาเลย์maa-lee1Malay2Malaysia3Malay (person)4Malay (language)
He went to travel in Malaysia.
3 more examplesShow less
Next year, I will go work in Malaysia.
My friend is from Malaysia.
ถ้าtâaอยากyàakไปเที่ยวbpai-tîiaoมาเลย์maa-leeให้hâiประหยัดbprà-yàtควรkuuanจองตั๋วjɔɔng-dtǔuaล่วงหน้าlûuang-nâa
If you want to travel to Malaysia economically, you should book tickets in advance.
3NounB1
Malay (person)
A person who belongs to the Malay ethnic group.
Examples
เพื่อนบ้านpʉ̂ʉan-bâanเพื่อนบ้านpʉ̂ʉan-bâan1neighbor (person)2neighboring (of a country or community)ของฉันkɔ̌ɔng-chǎnของฉันkɔ̌ɔng-chǎnmy; mineเป็นbpenเป็นbpen1to be (identity/category/state)2to become3[to] know how; be able to (skill)4alive; living5[to] have; suffer from; be in (a condition)คนkonคนkon1person; human2classifier: people3[to] stir; mix by stirringมาเลย์maa-leeมาเลย์maa-lee1Malay2Malaysia3Malay (person)4Malay (language)
My neighbor is a Malay person.
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เพื่อนร่วมงานpʉ̂ʉan-rûuam-ngaanของฉันkɔ̌ɔng-chǎnเป็นbpenคนkonมาเลย์maa-leeเขาkǎoก็เลยgɔ̂-ləəiพูดpûutภาษามาเลย์paa-sǎa-maa-leeได้dâai
My colleague is a Malay, so he can speak the Malay language.
ในnaiจังหวัดชายแดนjang-wàt-chaai-dɛɛnภาคใต้pâak-dtâaiมีmiiคนkonมาเลย์maa-leeอาศัยอยู่aa-sǎi-yùuเป็นจำนวนมากbpen-jam-nuuan-mâak
In the southern border provinces, there are many Malays living there.
อัตลักษณ์àt-dtà-lákของkɔ̌ɔngคนkonมาเลย์maa-leeมักจะmák-jàผูกพันpùuk-panกับgàpศาสนาsàat-sà-nǎaและlɛ́ประเพณีbprà-pee-niiดั้งเดิมdâng-dəəmอย่างลึกซึ้งyàang-lʉ́k-sʉ́ng
The identity of a Malay person is often deeply intertwined with their religion and traditional customs.
4NounB1
Malay (language)
The Malay language.
Examples
ฉันchǎnฉันchǎn1I; me2[to] eat (of Buddhist monks and novices)3like; as (in the manner of)กำลังgam-langกำลังgam-lang1currently; in the middle of2power; strength3power (physics)4troops; forcesเรียนriianเรียนriian1[to] study; learn2[to] respectfully inform; address (formal)ภาษามาเลย์paa-sǎa-maa-leeภาษามาเลย์paa-sǎa-maa-leeMalay language
I am learning the Malay language.
3 more examplesShow less
Can you speak Malay?
ภาษามาเลย์paa-sǎa-maa-leeกับgàpภาษาpaa-sǎaอินโดนีเซียin-doo-nii-siiaคล้ายกันkláai-ganมากmâakผมpǒmเลยləəiพอจะpɔɔ-jàเข้าใจkâo-jaiได้dâaiบ้างbâang
The Malay and Indonesian languages are very similar, so I can understand a little.
การรู้gaan-rúuภาษามาเลย์paa-sǎa-maa-leeถือเป็นtʉ̌ʉ-bpenข้อได้เปรียบkɔ̂ɔ-dâai-bprìiapอย่างมากyàang-mâakในnaiการทำธุรกิจgaan-tam-tú-rá-gìtในnaiภูมิภาคpuu-mí-pâakนี้níi
Knowing the Malay language is a significant advantage for doing business in this region.
Tones
See how the spelling sets each syllable's tone, step by step.
Why is มาเลย์ said มา-เล?
maa-lee
The tone rules below use the spoken syllables.
2 syllables · pick one to see its rule
How the tone is decided
- Consonant classLow class
- Tone markNo tone mark
- Syllable endingLive syllableA long vowel with no final consonant, so it is live.
Low class consonants
คฅฆงชซฌญฑฒณทธนพฟภมยรลวฬฮ
Result
Mid tone
maa
Level, in your normal speaking voice.
Low class + No tone mark + Live syllable → Mid
Tone chart
Every class and spelling pattern, with this syllable outlined.
| Mid class | High class | Low class | |
|---|---|---|---|
| No mark + live | Mid | Rising | Mid |
| No mark + dead short | Low | Low | High |
| No mark + dead long | Low | Low | Falling |
| Mai ek | Low | Low | Falling |
| Mai tho | Falling | Falling | High |
| Mai tri | High | — | — |
| Mai chattawa | Rising | — | — |
Word Breakdown
มาmaaมาmaa1[to] come; arrive2[to] come to (a state or situation)3past/as of now aspect marker[to] come; arrivePart 1
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มาเลย์maa-leeมาเลย์maa-leeMalayMalayWord