How many words are in this list?

This page gives 100 Malay words on “Arts and creation”. The full topic holds 174 in the KoKo app: 69 at the easy level, 61 at the medium level and 44 at the hard level.

Which words should I start with?

With level 1: these are the easiest words of the topic. Move on to level 2 once they come to you without thinking, then to level 3.

How can I remember this Malay vocabulary?

By seeing each word again at longer and longer intervals, just before you forget it: that is spaced repetition. The KoKo app does it for you and tells you each day which words to review.

Can I print this list or save it as a PDF?

Yes. The “Print the list” button at the top of the page opens your device’s print dialog: choose to save as PDF to keep the 100 words and their translation, with nothing else around them.

Malay vocabulary: art, literature and music

Music, painting, theatre, photography, literature: arts and culture vocabulary in Malay.

Here are 100 Malay words on “Arts and creation”, translated into English and sorted from easiest to hardest.

Level 1: easy 40 words

Malay	English
pelakon	actor
seni	art
aliran seni	art movement
seniman	artist
penonton	audience
seni pelopor	avant garde
keindahan	beauty
kamera	camera
kanvas	canvas
bab	chapter
kord	chord
koleksi	collection
komedi	comedy
konsert	concert
penciptaan	creation
tarian	dance
reka bentuk	design
dialog	dialogue
karya palsu	forgery
alat muzik	instrument
lukisan pemandangan	landscape
baris puisi	line of verse
sastera	literature
muzium	museum
tangga nada	musical scale
penceritaan	narrative
novel	novel
opera	opera
seni lukis	painting
perspektif	perspective
puisi	poetry
potret	portrait
penerbit	publisher
peranan	role
cerita pendek	short story
penyanyi	singer
lukisan benda mati	still life
gaya	style
bakat	talent
jelajah konsert	tour

Level 2: medium 35 words

Malay	English
abstrak	abstract
estetika	aesthetics
studio seniman	artist’s studio
korus	chorus
tanah liat	clay
konduktor orkestra	conductor
kontemporari	contemporary
kostum	costume
tirai pentas	curtain
pengarah pentas	director
bilik solek	dressing room
lampu kilat	flash
seruling	flute
gitar	guitar
inspirasi	inspiration
marmar	marble
melodi	melody
pencerita	narrator
cat minyak atas kanvas	oil on canvas
palet	palette
foto	photograph
alas arca	plinth
jalan cerita	plot
sajak	poem
latihan persembahan	rehearsal
repertoir	repertoire
skor muzik	score
dekorasi pentas	set
lakaran	sketch
gambar rakaman	snapshot
patung	statue
ketegangan cerita	suspense
menggubah	to compose
mengilhamkan	to inspire
biola	violin

Level 3: hard 25 words

Malay	English
akordion	accordion
lukisan arang	charcoal drawing
koir	choir
klarinet	clarinet
kekuda lukisan	easel
pengakhiran cerita	ending
figuratif	figurative
harpa	harp
improvisasi	improvisation
pantomim	mime
monolog	monologue
berus lukis	paintbrush
penaung seni	patron
perkusi	percussion
cetakan seni	print artwork
pembukaan pameran	private view
saksofon	saxophone
potret diri	self portrait
pemain solo	soloist
demam pentas	stage fright
rangkap puisi	stanzaGroup of lines in a poem
simfoni	symphony
bertepuk tangan	to applaud
berimprovisasi	to improvise
cat air	watercolour

Mini quiz

5 words from this page, picked at random. Find their translation.

Frequently asked questions

How many words are in this list?: This page gives 100 Malay words on “Arts and creation”. The full topic holds 174 in the KoKo app: 69 at the easy level, 61 at the medium level and 44 at the hard level.
Which words should I start with?: With level 1: these are the easiest words of the topic. Move on to level 2 once they come to you without thinking, then to level 3.
How can I remember this Malay vocabulary?: By seeing each word again at longer and longer intervals, just before you forget it: that is spaced repetition. The KoKo app does it for you and tells you each day which words to review.
Can I print this list or save it as a PDF?: Yes. The “Print the list” button at the top of the page opens your device’s print dialog: choose to save as PDF to keep the 100 words and their translation, with nothing else around them.

How KoKo makes words stick

These lists come from KoKo, the app to learn Malay vocabulary on iPhone.