Malay

Etymology

From Malay Melayu, from Malayu, a kingdom on Sumatra's eastern coast (today's Jambi), mentioned by the Chinese Monk Yijing as 末羅瑜國 and during the Yuan (1271-1368) and Ming (1368-1644) dynasties as 木剌由, 麻里予兒, 巫來由 and 無來由. First attested in English as 1598.

The oldest known inscriptions in the Malay language were found at Kedukan Bukit (dated 673) and Talang Tuo (dated 684), both in the vicinity of Palembang in southern Sumatra, and at Kota Kapur (dated 686) on Bangka island west of Sumatra. Exonymous derivation from Malayalam മല (mala, “mountain”) has not been demonstrated.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /məˈleɪ/, /meɪˈleɪ/

• Audio (Southern England):

  (file)

• (US) IPA^(key): /ˈmeɪleɪ/, /məˈleɪ/
• Rhymes: -eɪ
• Homophone: melee

Adjective

Malay (not comparable)

1. Of or relating to the Malays, a people living in Brunei, on the eastern coast of Sumatra, the islands of Bangka and Belitung, the Riau archipelago and the coastal areas of Kalimantan in Indonesia, in most of Malaysia (states where they are politically dominant), in Singapore and in the southernmost provinces of Thailand.
   • 1955 April, “Notes and News: A Journey through Thailand”, in Railway Magazine, page 286:

     There were not many passengers, and the journey was uneventful until the frontier was reached at Padang Besar, although an armed escort of Malay police accompanied the train from Alor Star.

   • 2008, Preeta Samarasan, Evening is the Whole Day, Fourth Estate, page 124:

     “I heard the Malay fellas talking at the office.”

2. (generally proscribed by Malays and Malaysians) Of or related to Malaysia, its people and/or culture.
3. In, of or otherwise relating to the languages spoken by Malays.

Noun

Malay (countable and uncountable, plural Malays)

1. (countable) A person of Malay ancestry, referring to a diverse group of Austronesian peoples inhabiting the Malay archipelago and Malay peninsula in Southeast Asia.
2. Type of mild curry made with yoghurt and fruit, usually pineapple or lychee.

   She ordered chicken Malay with rice.

Proper noun

Malay

1. (broad sense) The Malay language, an Austronesian language spoken by most Malay people and by others where it is an official language, including under the name Indonesian.
2. (strict sense) The Malay language, an Austronesian language spoken by most Malay people and by others where it is an official language, excluding the national standard known as Indonesian.
3. A municipality of Aklan, Philippines.
    Malay, Aklan on Wikipedia

   Meronyms: Argao, Balabag, Balusbus, Cabulihan, Caticlan, Cogon, Cubay Norte, Cubay Sur, Dumlog, Manoc-Manoc, Motag, Naasug, Nabaoy, Napaan, Poblacion, San Viray, Yapak — barangays of Malay

   Coordinate terms: Altavas, Balete, Banga, Batan, Buruanga, Ibajay, Kalibo, Lezo, Libacao, Madalag, Makato, Malay, Malinao, Nabas, New Washington, Numancia, Tangalan — municipalities of Aklan

See also

• Malayalam
• Wiktionary’s coverage of Malay terms
• Appendix:Malay Swadesh list for a Swadesh list of basic vocabulary words in Malay

Further reading

• “Malay”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.
• ISO 639-1 code ms, ISO 639-3 code msa (SIL)
• Ethnologue entry for Malay, msa ⁠, a macrolanguage including:

Related Languages:

• Ethnologue entry for Ambonese Malay, abs ⁠
• Ethnologue entry for Baba Malay, mbf ⁠
• Ethnologue entry for Balinese Malay, mhp ⁠
• Ethnologue entry for Banda Malay, bpq ⁠
• Ethnologue entry for Kupang Malay, mkn ⁠
• Ethnologue entry for Makassar Malay, mfp ⁠

Anagrams

• Lamay, Yamal

Etymology

Doublet of Melayu.

Proper noun

Malay

1. (colloquial) clipping of Malaysia

Etymology

Borrowed from English Malay, from Malay Melayu. Doublet of Malayo.

Pronunciation

• (Standard Tagalog) IPA^(key): /maˈlaj/ [mɐˈlaɪ̯]
• Rhymes: -aj
• Syllabification: Ma‧lay

Proper noun

Maláy (Baybayin spelling ᜋᜎᜌ᜔)

1. Malay (language)

   Synonym: Malayo

2. A municipality of Aklan, Philippines; location of Boracay island

Noun

Maláy (Baybayin spelling ᜋᜎᜌ᜔)

1. Malay (person)

   Synonyms: Malayo, Malaya

Adjective

Maláy (Baybayin spelling ᜋᜎᜌ᜔)

1. Malay (pertaining to Malays)

   Synonym: Malayo

Further reading

• “Malay”, in Pambansang Diksiyonaryo | Diksiyonaryo.ph, Manila, 2018

Anagrams

• lamay