adj
Common
Malaysian
muh-LAY-zee-uhn
Malaysian (adj) means relating to the country of Malaysia. Example: “Malaysian cuisine blends Malay, Chinese, and Indian influences.”
adj
1
Relating to the country of Malaysia.
"Malaysian cuisine blends Malay, Chinese, and Indian influences."
noun
1
A citizen or native of Malaysia.
"Many Malaysians speak at least two or three languages fluently."
How to use Malaysian
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishDescribes the country Malaysia or people from it, regardless of ethnicity.
Common mistake
"Malaysian" is about nationality; "Malay" is about a specific ethnic group and language.
Easily confused with
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Word forms
- Plural
- Malaysians
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
_____ cuisine blends Malay, Chinese, and Indian influences.
Etymology
From Malaysia plus the adjective ending "-an."
Synonyms
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Rhymes for Malaysian
See all rhymes for Malaysian →Frequently asked questions
What does “Malaysian” mean?
The word “Malaysian” means relating to the country of Malaysia. In plain terms, describes the country Malaysia or people from it, regardless of ethnicity.
How do you pronounce “Malaysian”?
“Malaysian” is pronounced muh-LAY-zee-uhn (/məˈleɪ.zi.ən/ in IPA).
How do you use “Malaysian” in a sentence?
Here is “Malaysian” used in a sentence: “Malaysian cuisine blends Malay, Chinese, and Indian influences.”
What is another word for “Malaysian”?
Words with a similar meaning to “Malaysian” include Malayan and Malay.
What part of speech is “Malaysian”?
Depending on how it is used, “Malaysian” can be an adjective and a noun.
Where does the word “Malaysian” come from?
The word “Malaysian” comes from Malay. From Malaysia plus the adjective ending "-an.".
Is “Malaysian” a common word?
“Malaysian” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “Malaysian” have?
“Malaysian” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: relating to the country of Malaysia.
What is the difference between Malaysian and Malay?
Malaysian refers broadly to anything relating to the country of Malaysia or its citizens, regardless of ethnicity. Malay more specifically refers to the Malay ethnic group and language, which is one of several ethnic groups within Malaysia.
Is every Malaysian person considered Malay?
No, Malaysian describes citizenship or nationality, while Malay refers to a specific ethnic group within the country. Malaysia is home to multiple ethnicities, including Malay, Chinese, and Indian communities, all of whom can hold Malaysian nationality.
When should you use Malaysian instead of Malayan?
Malaysian is the standard modern term relating to the country of Malaysia and its people, while Malayan is an older term more often associated with the historical Malay Peninsula or pre-independence usage. Malaysian is preferred in current, general contexts.
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