How to Tell Time and Dates in Malay for English Speakers

Understanding the Basics of Telling Time in Malay

Telling time in Malay is straightforward once you learn the key vocabulary and structure. The 12-hour clock is commonly used in daily conversation, while the 24-hour clock is often used in formal contexts like schedules and timetables.

Key Vocabulary for Time

• Jam – hour or o'clock
• Minit – minute
• Pagi – morning (6 AM to 12 PM)
• Tengah hari – noon (12 PM)
• Petang – afternoon (12 PM to 6 PM)
• Malam – night (6 PM to 12 AM)
• Tengah malam – midnight (12 AM)

How to Say the Hour

To say the hour, use the word jam followed by the number for the hour. For example, jam tiga means "three o'clock."

Adding Minutes

To express minutes past the hour, say the hour, then the number of minutes. For example, jam dua lima belas means "2:15." You can also say jam dua lewat lima belas minit to mean "15 minutes past 2."

Expressing Minutes to the Hour

To say minutes before the next hour, use the word kurang (meaning "less") followed by the number of minutes and the next hour. For example, jam tiga kurang sepuluh means "10 minutes to 3" or 2:50.

Using Time of Day

Malay often specifies the time of day to clarify whether it is morning, afternoon, or evening. For example, jam lapan pagi means "8 AM," while jam lapan malam means "8 PM."

Telling Dates in Malay

Dates in Malay follow the day-month-year format, similar to British English. The names of the months are derived from English but adapted to Malay pronunciation.

Months of the Year in Malay

• Januari – January
• Februari – February
• Mac – March
• April – April
• Mei – May
• Jun – June
• Julai – July
• Ogos – August
• September – September
• Oktober – October
• November – November
• Disember – December

How to Say the Date

To say the date, start with the day number, then the month, and finally the year. For example, 15 Ogos 2024 means "15th August 2024."

Days of the Week in Malay

• Isnin – Monday
• Selasa – Tuesday
• Rabu – Wednesday
• Khamis – Thursday
• Jumaat – Friday
• Sabtu – Saturday
• Ahad – Sunday

You can include the day of the week before the date for clarity, for example, Isnin, 15 Ogos 2024 means "Monday, 15th August 2024."

Practice Examples

Here are some example sentences to practice telling time and dates in Malay:

Tips for English Speakers Learning Malay Time and Dates

• Remember that Malay uses the 12-hour clock in conversation, so always specify pagi, petang, or malam.
• Practice the pronunciation of numbers as they are essential for telling time and dates.
• Familiarize yourself with the months and days of the week to understand dates better.
• Use context clues like time of day to avoid confusion between AM and PM.