Language/Malay-individual-language/Vocabulary/Numbers-and-Counting

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Malay (individual language) Vocabulary → Basic Vocabulary → Numbers and Counting

Introduction

In this lesson, we will explore the topic of numbers and counting in Malay. Numbers are an essential part of any language, and learning how to count in Malay will help you in various situations, such as shopping, telling time, and understanding dates. We will cover both cardinal and ordinal numbers, providing you with a comprehensive understanding of how to use numbers in Malay.

By the end of this lesson, you will be able to confidently count and use numbers in everyday conversations. Let's get started!

Cardinal Numbers

Cardinal numbers are used to indicate quantity, whether it's counting objects, people, or expressing a specific quantity. In Malay, cardinal numbers are relatively easy to learn as they follow a straightforward pattern. Let's take a look at the numbers from 1 to 10 in Malay:

Malay (individual language)	Pronunciation	English Translation
satu	sah-too	one
dua	doo-wah	two
tiga	tee-gah	three
empat	em-paht	four
lima	lee-ma	five
enam	eh-nam	six
tujuh	too-joo	seven
lapan	lah-pan	eight
sembilan	sem-bee-lan	nine
sepuluh	suh-poo-loh	ten

To count beyond ten, you can simply combine the words for the numbers. For example, to say eleven, you would say "sebelas," which is a combination of "satu" (one) and "sepuluh" (ten). Let's look at some examples:

• dua belas (12) - literally "two ten"
• tiga belas (13) - literally "three ten"
• empat belas (14) - literally "four ten"
• dua puluh (20) - literally "two ten"
• tiga puluh (30) - literally "three ten"
• empat puluh (40) - literally "four ten"

As you can see, the pattern is straightforward. To form numbers from 21 to 99, you combine the words for the tens and units. Here are some examples:

• dua puluh satu (21) - literally "two ten one"
• tiga puluh dua (32) - literally "three ten two"
• empat puluh tiga (43) - literally "four ten three"
• lima puluh empat (54) - literally "five ten four"

To express larger numbers, you continue the pattern. For example, 100 is "seratus," which is a combination of "ser" (one) and "ratus" (hundred).

Ordinal Numbers

Ordinal numbers are used to indicate the order or position of something in a sequence. In Malay, ordinal numbers are formed by adding the suffix "-ke" to the cardinal number. Let's take a look at the ordinal numbers from 1st to 10th in Malay:

Malay (individual language)	Pronunciation	English Translation
pertama	per-ta-ma	first
kedua	ke-doo-wah	second
ketiga	ke-tee-gah	third
keempat	ke-em-paht	fourth
kelima	ke-lee-ma	fifth
keenam	ke-eh-nam	sixth
ketujuh	ke-too-joo	seventh
kelapan	ke-lah-pan	eighth
kesembilan	ke-sem-bee-lan	ninth
kesepuluh	ke-suh-poo-loh	tenth

To form ordinal numbers beyond the tenth, you combine the ordinal number with the cardinal number. For example, to say "eleventh," you would say "sebelas" (eleven) followed by "ke," and then "pertama" (first). Let's look at some examples:

• kedua belas (12th) - literally "second twelve"
• ketiga belas (13th) - literally "third twelve"
• keempat belas (14th) - literally "fourth twelve"
• kedua puluh (20th) - literally "second twenty"
• ketiga puluh (30th) - literally "third thirty"
• keempat puluh (40th) - literally "fourth forty"

As with cardinal numbers, you can continue this pattern to express larger ordinal numbers. For example, to say 100th, you would say "seratus" (one hundred) followed by "ke," and then "seratus" (hundredth).

Cultural Insights

Numbers play a significant role in Malay culture, particularly in traditional ceremonies and rituals. In Malay weddings, for example, certain numbers are considered auspicious and may be preferred for the wedding date. The number 7, for instance, is believed to bring good luck and is often chosen for weddings. Additionally, numbers like 9 and 10 are also considered lucky and are associated with success and completion.

In Malaysia, the number 4 (empat) is often associated with bad luck because its pronunciation is similar to the word for "death" (mati) in Malay. As a result, it is common for buildings and hotels to skip the fourth floor or any other floor with the number 4. Similarly, the number 13 (tiga belas) is also considered unlucky, as it is in many cultures around the world.

Exercises

Now, let's practice what we've learned. Fill in the blanks with the correct numbers or ordinal numbers:

1. Saya mempunyai ___ ekor kucing di rumah. (I have ___ cats at home.) 2. Hari ini adalah ___ bulan. (Today is the ___ day.) 3. Tolong berikan saya ___ ringgit. (Please give me ___ ringgit.) 4. Dia telah datang pada hari ___ hari ulang tahun saya. (He/She came on my ___ birthday.) 5. Restoran itu berada di ___ tingkat bangunan. (The restaurant is on the ___ floor of the building.)

Answers: 1. Saya mempunyai dua ekor kucing di rumah. 2. Hari ini adalah pertama bulan. 3. Tolong berikan saya sepuluh ringgit. 4. Dia telah datang pada hari kesepuluh hari ulang tahun saya. 5. Restoran itu berada di lapan tingkat bangunan.

Conclusion

Congratulations! You have learned the basics of counting and using numbers in Malay. In this lesson, we covered cardinal numbers, ordinal numbers, and explored the cultural significance of numbers in Malay society. Make sure to practice using numbers in everyday situations to reinforce your learning.

In the next lesson, we will continue expanding our basic vocabulary by learning about colors and shapes in Malay. Terima kasih! (Thank you!)

Table of Contents - Malay (individual language) Course - 0 to A1

• Course Presentation

  ---

Introduction

• Alphabet and Pronunciation
• Nouns and Pronouns
• Verbs and Tenses
• Adjectives and Adverbs
• Prepositions and Conjunctions
• Questions and Interrogatives

  ---

Basic Vocabulary

• Food and Drinks
• Numbers and Counting
• Colors and Shapes
• Everyday Objects
• Family and Relationships
• Travel and Transportation
• Jobs and Professions

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Malay Culture and Tradition

• Religion and Festivals
• Malay Customs and Traditions
• Art and Music
• Malay Cuisine

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Intermediate Structures

• Relative Clauses
• Passive Voice
• Conditional Sentences
• Causative Verbs

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Advanced Vocabulary

• Politics and Government
• Science and Technology
• Literature and Poetry
• Business and Finance

  ---

Modern Malaysia

• Malay Society Today
• Pop Culture and Entertainment

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A1 Exam Preparation

• A1 Exam Overview
• Exam Strategies
• Practice Exams

Other Lessons

• Drinks
• Travel and Transportation
• Geometry
• Animals
• Hobbies
• Numbers
• Count from 1 to 10
• Everyday Objects
• Family
• Medicine

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