Malay Measure Words And Classifiers Made Simple
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One of the most unique parts of learning Malay is mastering measure words.
In Malay, we call these penjodoh bilangan.
If you’re an English speaker, you actually use these already without thinking about it. For example, you wouldn’t say “two breads.” You would say “two loaves of bread” or “two slices of bread.”
Those bold words are measure words (or classifiers).
The main difference is that in English, you only use them for uncountable things (like water or bread).
In Malay, we use them for almost everything when we are counting.
Whether you are counting cats, cars, or pencils, you need a specific word to go with the number.
It might seem intimidating at first because there are many different categories, but don’t worry. You really only need to know the most common ones to get by in daily conversation.
Here’s exactly how to use Malay classifiers.
Table of Contents:
The basic formula
Before you memorize the vocabulary, you need to know where to put the word in a sentence.
The structure is very consistent.
Number + Measure Word + Noun
You place the measure word right between the number and the object.
For example, if you want to say “three cats”:
- Tiga (Three)
- Ekor (Measure word for animals)
- Kucing (Cat)
Tiga ekor kucing
If you just said “tiga kucing,” people would understand you, but it sounds incomplete. It sounds like a toddler speaking. To sound like a fluent speaker, you need that bridge in the middle.
The “Big Three” classifiers you must know
If you only learn three measure words today, make them these three. They cover living things and general objects.
1. Orang (for people)
Orang literally means “person” or “human.” It is used for counting people, regardless of their job, gender, or age.
Saya ada dua orang kakak.
2. Ekor (for animals)
Ekor literally means “tail.” We use this for all animals, insects, and fish - even if they don’t actually have a tail (like a frog or an ant).
Ada seekor burung di atas pokok.
(Note: “Se” is a prefix that means “one.” So “seekor” means “one tail/animal”.)
3. Buah (for big or solid objects)
Buah literally means “fruit.” However, as a classifier, it is used for large, solid objects like cars, houses, buildings, tables, computers, and even countries or islands. It is also used for abstract things like ideas or stories.
Ayah saya beli sebuah kereta baru.
Classifiers based on shape
Malay’s a very visual language. Many classifiers describe the shape of the object you are counting.
Here’s a simple table of the most common shape-based classifiers.
| Measure Word | Usage | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Batang | Long, hard, stick-like objects | Pens, trees, rivers, candles, teeth |
| Biji | Small, round objects | Balls, eggs, fruits, nuts, cups |
| Helai | Thin, soft, flat objects | Paper, clothes, hair, leaves, towels |
| Keping | Thin, flat, rigid objects | Biscuits, bread slices, photos, cards |
| Bilah | Sharp, pointed objects | Knives, scissors, needles, swords |
A helpful tip:
Notice the difference between helai and keping.
- If you drop it and it floats down gently (like paper or a shirt), use helai.
- If you drop it and it falls straight down or snaps (like a cracker or a credit card), use keping.
Tolong bagi saya sehelai kertas.
Dia makan dua keping roti.
Food and drink classifiers
When ordering food at a mamak stall or a restaurant, these words come in very handy.
Potong (Slices/Cuts)
Used for things that have been cut from a larger block, like cake or meat.
- Sepotong kek (A slice of cake)
Ikat (Bundles)
Ikat means “to tie.” This is used for vegetables usually tied in bunches, or drinks in plastic bags tied with string (very common in Malaysia!).
- Seikat sayur (A bunch of vegetables)
Gelas and Cawan (Glass and Cup)
Just like in English, we count the container.
- Gelas is for a glass (usually cold drinks).
- Cawan is for a cup (usually hot drinks like coffee or tea).
Saya nak satu cawan kopi, ya.
Slang and spoken shortcuts
Now that you have learned the formal rules, I have to tell you how we actually speak in real life.
Malaysians love shortcuts.
In casual, daily conversation (Bahasa Pasar), we often drop the measure word completely if the context is clear.
If you go to a shop, you might hear:
Bos, bagi dua nasi lemak.
Grammatically, it should be dua bungkus nasi lemak (two packets of nasi lemak), but nobody says the full phrase when ordering quickly.
The usage of “Biji” (or “Bijik”)
In slang, the word biji (often pronounced “bijik”) has become a “universal” classifier for almost any small-to-medium object.
While textbooks say you should use buah for a computer or a bag, in casual speech, you will hear people use biji for these items too.
However, for your exams or formal writing, stick to the table I gave you above.
Learning penjodoh bilangan takes time, but it helps paint a clear picture of what you are describing.
Here’s a quick checklist for your next study session:
- Use Orang for humans.
- Use Ekor for animals.
- Use Buah for big objects.
- Use Batang for long sticks.
- Use Biji for round things.
- Use Helai for soft flat things.
Start by using just these six, and you will cover 90% of your daily conversations.
