Malay is an Austronesian language spoken by over 290 million people across Southeast Asia. It serves as the national language of Malaysia (where it’s known as Bahasa Malaysia) and Brunei, and it’s one of the official languages of Singapore. A closely related form, Bahasa Indonesia, is the official language of Indonesia, making Malay one of the most widely spoken languages in the world.

Volunteers travelling to these countries may encounter it in everyday life, especially in rural or community-based settings. While English is also widely spoken in urban areas and tourism sectors, learning basic Malay phrases can significantly enrich your cultural exchange experience.

Curiosities:

• Malay uses the Latin alphabet and has relatively simple grammar, making it accessible to beginners.

• It has many loanwords from Arabic, Sanskrit, Chinese, Portuguese, Dutch, and English, reflecting its rich trading history.

• The word for ‘thank you’ is terima kasih, which literally means “to receive love.”

In the projects listed below, you may have the chance to speak or learn Malay through daily interactions with locals, language exchanges, or cultural immersion experiences. Whether you’re volunteering on a farm in rural Malaysia or helping out at a language centre in Indonesia, picking up some Malay can open doors and build deeper connections.