How many words are in this list?

This page gives 100 Malay words on “Core verbs”. The full topic holds 246 in the KoKo app: 98 at the easy level, 86 at the medium level and 62 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: basic verbs

To be, to have, to go, to do, to want: the basic Malay verbs, the ones found in almost every sentence.

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

Level 1: easy 40 words

Malay	English
menambah	to add
menjawab	to answer
mengenal	to be familiar withBe familiar with someone or something
menjadi	to becomeChange from one state to another
membina	to build
membeli	to buy
memanggil	to call
membawa	to carryHave on you, carry around
datang	to come
kembali	to come back
mencipta	to create
meninggal	to die
masuk	to enter
menjelaskan	to explain
menyelesaikan	to finish
pulang	to go home
naik	to go up
mencari	to look for
kehilangan	to lose
bertemu	to meet
membuka	to open
melewati	to pass
bermain	to play
mencegah	to prevent
melindungi	to protect
menarik	to pull
membaca	to read
mendapat	to receive
mengatakan	to say
melayan	to serve
berkongsi	to share
tersenyum	to smile
memulakan	to start
menghentikan	to stop
menggunakan	to use
menunggu	to waitBe patient, let time pass
mahu	to want
bertanya-tanya	to wonder
bekerja	to work
menulis	to write

Level 2: medium 35 words

Malay	English
menerima	to accept
menyerang	to attack
perlu	to be necessary
memecahkan	to break
membawa	to bringBring something towards the speaker
mengaku	to confess
menyeberang	to cross
menangis	to cry
memutuskan	to decide
menghancurkan	to destroy
menghilang	to disappear
merasa	to feelPerceive a physical sensation or an emotion
bergaduh	to fight
bangun	to get up
turun	to go down
membayangkan	to imagine
melompat	to jump
mencintai	to love
bergerak	to move
memerhatikan	to notice
mencadangkan	to offer
mengatur	to organise
menyingkirkan	to remove
membaiki	to repair
menggantikan	to replace
berehat	to rest
berlari	to run
berjaya	to succeed
menyokong	to support
menceritakan	to tellNarrate, tell a story
membuang	to throw away
menyentuh	to touch
berjalan	to walk
menarik balik	to withdraw
mencatat	to write down

Level 3: hard 25 words

Malay	English
memohon	to beg
menjadi milik	to belong
menangkap	to catch
berbual	to chat
membersihkan	to clean
mengkritik	to criticise
menuntut	to demand
bergantung	to depend
membahagi	to divide
mengosongkan	to empty
menganggarkan	to estimate
gagal	to fail
memaksa	to force
mengumpulkan	to gather
berpakaian	to get dressed
tinggal	to live in
memungut	to pick up
merancang	to plan
lebih suka	to prefer
duduk	to sit down
menggenggam	to squeeze
menyalakan	to switch on
membawa bersama	to take alongTake someone along with you
mengancam	to threaten
berbisik	to whisper

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 “Core verbs”. The full topic holds 246 in the KoKo app: 98 at the easy level, 86 at the medium level and 62 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.