adj
Malay
muh-LAY
adj
1
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."
noun
1
A member of the Malay ethnic group, or the Malay language itself.
"She grew up speaking Malay at home and English at school."
How to Use Malay
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishRefers to the Malay people, their culture, or their language, mainly spoken in Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei, and Singapore.
Common mistake
Don't confuse with "Malaysian," which refers to the country of Malaysia and its citizens of any ethnicity.
Easily confused with
Word Forms
Malays plural
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The village still follows traditional _____ customs.
Etymology
From the Malay word Melayu, originally the name of an ancient kingdom on Sumatra.