Malay
1 synonym for Malay, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Adj — Relating to the Malay people, an ethnic group native to the Malay Peninsula and parts of nearby islands.
Synonyms
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Synonyms by Meaning
1. adj
Relating to the Malay people, an ethnic group native to the Malay Peninsula and parts of nearby islands.
“The village still follows traditional Malay customs.”
2. noun
A member of the Malay ethnic group, or the Malay language itself.
“She grew up speaking Malay at home and English at school.”
Etymology
From the Malay word Melayu, originally the name of an ancient kingdom on Sumatra.
Full origin of Malay →Frequently asked questions
What does “Malay” mean?
The word “Malay” means relating to the Malay people, an ethnic group native to the Malay Peninsula and parts of nearby islands. In plain terms, refers to the Malay people, their culture, or their language, mainly spoken in Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei, and Singapore.
How do you pronounce “Malay”?
“Malay” is pronounced muh-LAY (/ˈmeɪ̯leɪ̯/ in IPA).
How do you use “Malay” in a sentence?
Here is “Malay” used in a sentence: “The village still follows traditional Malay customs.”
What part of speech is “Malay”?
Depending on how it is used, “Malay” can be an adjective and a noun.
Where does the word “Malay” come from?
The word “Malay” comes from Malay. From the Malay word Melayu, originally the name of an ancient kingdom on Sumatra.
Is “Malay” a common word?
“Malay” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “Malay” have?
“Malay” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: relating to the Malay people, an ethnic group native to the Malay Peninsula and parts of nearby islands.
Related words
Malayalam
Wiktionary’s coverage of Malay terms
