Language/Malay-individual-language/Grammar/Plurals
Hi Malay (individual language) learners! 😊
In this lesson, we will be discussing plurals in Malay. Understanding plurals is important because it allows you to describe more than one noun in a sentence. As a language teacher with 20 years of experience, I will show you how to form plurals in Malay and provide cultural information along the way. Don't forget to practice what you learn by speaking with native speakers and ask them any questions you may have. Let's get started! 😃
Basic Plural Form[edit | edit source]
In Malay, forming plurals is simple. The basic plural form is by adding the suffix "-an" (written as "-an" in Latin script) to the noun. Let's look at some examples below:
| Malay (individual language) | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Hidung | /hi.doŋ/ | Nose |
| Hidung-hidung-an | /hi.doŋ hi.doŋ an/ | Noses |
| Surat | /su.rat/ | Letter |
| Surat-su.rat-an | /su.rat su.rat an/ | Letters |
As you can see, by adding "-an" to a singular noun, we can form the plural form of the noun. Let's do some more practice.
Task 1: Form the plural form of the following singular nouns by adding "-an":
- Rumah (/ru.mah/) - House
- Tangan (/ta.ŋan/) - Hand
- Kucing (/ku.ching/) - Cat
- Hari (/ha.ri/) - Day
Plural Form with an N Sound[edit | edit source]
Adding "-an" to a noun may result in a double "n" sound in the middle of the word. To avoid this, we insert the letter "n" between the noun and the "-an" suffix. Here are some examples:
| Malay (individual language) | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Mulut | /mu.lut/ | Mouth |
| Mulut-mu.lut-an | /mu.lut mu.lut an/ | Mouths |
| Kaki | /ka.ki/ | Foot |
| Kaki-ka.ki-an | /ka.ki ka.ki an/ | Feet |
Notice how we insert the letter "n" between the noun and the "-an" suffix to form the plural? Let's try some practice.
Task 2: Form the plural form of the following singular nouns by adding "-an" and inserting "n" if needed:
- Jalan (/ja.lan/) - Road
- Burung (/bu.rung/) - Bird
- Suku (/su.ku/) - Tribe
- Bukit (/bu.kit/) - Hill
Plural Form with a U Sound[edit | edit source]
Some singular Malay (individual language) nouns that end with the letter "a" will change the letter "a" into "u" and add "-an" to indicate more than one noun. Let's see a few examples:
| Malay (individual language) | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Anak | /a.nak/ | Child |
| Anak-anak | /a.nak a.nak/ | Children |
| Lutut | /lu.tut/ | Knee |
| Lutut-lutut | /lu.tut lu.tut/ | Knees |
Task 3: Form the plural form of the following singular nouns by changing "a" to "u" and adding "-an":
- Kata (/ka.ta/) - Word
- Suka (/su.ka/) - Like
- Harga (/har.ga/) - Price
- Pakai (/pa.kai/) - Wear
Plural Form without Suffix[edit | edit source]
There are a few Malay (individual language) nouns that do not require the addition of the "-an" suffix to indicate plurality. The context of the sentence should make it clear that there is more than one noun. Here are some examples:
| Malay (individual language) | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Ibu bapa | /i.bu ba.pa/ | Parents |
| Enam belas tahun | /e.nam be.las tu.han/ | Sixteen years old |
| Belas sekolah | /be.las se.kol.ah/ | Tens of schools |
Notice how there is no "-an" suffix added and yet, the meaning is clear in the context of the sentence? Let's try a few examples.
Task 4: Translate the following sentences to Malay (individual language):
- I have two cats.
- There are ten books on the shelf.
- The boys are playing soccer.
Conclusion[edit | edit source]
Congratulations! You now know how to form plurals in Malay. It's that simple! By understanding plurals, you can now describe more than one noun in a sentence. Don't forget to practice what you've learned by speaking with native speakers. For more information on Malay (individual language) Grammar, check out the Grammar section of the Malay (individual language) page on Polyglot Club. 😃
Sources[edit | edit source]
Impressive work on finishing this lesson! Explore these additional pages to enhance your understanding: Malay Grammar: Introduction to Verbs and Tenses, Malay Prepositions and Conjunctions Lesson, Passive Voice & Conditional Sentences.
Other Lessons[edit | edit source]
- Future Tense
- Give your Opinion
- Conditional Mood
- How to Use Be
- Pronouns
- Nouns
- How to Use Have
- Negation
- Questions