Phones and the Internet in Malay

Technology words in Malay are a mix of English loanwords and native terms, so you'll recognise many.

Devices

Malay	Meaning
telefon	phone
telefon bimbit	mobile phone
komputer	computer
komputer riba	laptop
tablet	tablet
skrin	screen
papan kekunci	keyboard
pengecas	charger
bateri	battery
fon telinga	earphones

The internet

Malay	Meaning
internet	internet
laman web	website
e-mel	email
kata laluan	password
aplikasi	app
muat turun	download
muat naik	upload
mesej	message
carian	search
percuma	free of charge
Wi-Fi	Wi-Fi

Native and borrowed words

Malay has created its own terms for many devices: komputer riba ("lap computer") for laptop and kata laluan ("passing word") for password. Others come straight from English, such as internet and aplikasi.

Phone calls

• Helo? — Hello?
• Boleh saya bercakap dengan Ahmad? — May I speak to Ahmad?
• Saya akan telefon balik. — I'll call back.
• Talian tidak jelas. — The line isn't clear.
• Tiada liputan. — There's no coverage.

Messages and social media

• Hantar mesej kepada saya. — Send me a message.
• Saya akan hantar gambar. — I'll send a photo.
• Boleh tambah saya sebagai kawan? — Can you add me as a friend?

Common problems

• Bateri saya habis. — My battery is dead.
• Wi-Fi tidak berfungsi. — The Wi-Fi isn't working.
• Apa kata laluan Wi-Fi? — What's the Wi-Fi password?

Tips

1. Notice which terms are native and which are borrowed.
2. Learn phone phrases.
3. Use the dictionary to check terms.

Look up any word with English Malay Dictionary →