Malaysian Food Words: Nasi Lemak, Roti Canai and Teh Tarik
The names of popular Malaysian dishes and drinks, what they mean, and the basic food vocabulary you need in Malay.
Food is central to daily life in Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei. The names are worth learning, and many have literal meanings.
Popular dishes
| Dish | Meaning and notes |
|---|---|
| nasi lemak | "fatty rice": rice cooked in coconut milk, with sambal, anchovies, peanuts and egg |
| roti canai | a flaky flatbread served with curry or dhal |
| satay (sate) | grilled skewered meat with peanut sauce |
| laksa | noodles in a spicy soup, in several regional styles |
| mee goreng | fried noodles |
| nasi goreng | fried rice |
| char kway teow | stir-fried flat rice noodles |
| rendang | slow-cooked spiced meat |
| cendol | shaved-ice dessert with coconut milk and palm sugar |
Drinks
| Drink | Meaning |
|---|---|
| teh tarik | "pulled tea": sweet milk tea poured back and forth |
| kopi | coffee |
| teh | tea |
| air | water |
| air kelapa | coconut water |
| ais | ice |
Basic vocabulary
| Malay | Meaning |
|---|---|
| makanan | food |
| minuman | drink |
| nasi | rice |
| ayam | chicken |
| ikan | fish |
| daging | meat |
| sayur | vegetables |
| telur | egg |
| buah | fruit |
| garam | salt |
| gula | sugar |
| pedas | spicy |
| manis | sweet |
| masin | salty |
| sedap | delicious |
Useful sentences
- Saya lapar. — I am hungry.
- Saya dahaga. — I am thirsty.
- Makanan ini sedap. — This food is delicious.
- Tidak pedas, boleh? — Not spicy, please?
- Saya tidak makan daging babi. — I don't eat pork.
Notes on eating
Halal food, prepared according to Islamic rules, is widely available. Eating with the right hand is customary, and many dishes are eaten with spoon and fork.
Tips
- Learn the dish names you'll see on menus.
- Learn pedas, manis and sedap.
- Use the dictionary to check ingredients.
English Malay Dictionary
Offline English–Malay (Bahasa Melayu) dictionary with clear, accurate meanings
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