Malay vocabulary apps differ in where your words come from. Poppy writes lessons and brings your saved words back, uTalk gives you topic lists, and Anki and Quizlet hold the cards you write. LingQ saves words from what you read, Memolay from a dictionary lookup, and Simply Learn Malay from phrases you favorite. For courses and tutors, see our Malay app comparison.
Bubblegum
For serious learners, Bubblegum is the best app to learn Malay. You learn from Malay you can mostly understand, which is called comprehensible input.
Tell Poppy, your AI tutor, your level and what you like, and she writes your Malay lessons. If a sentence is hard to follow, ask Poppy to explain it.
With Regenerative Review™, words you save show up again in new lessons, so that you can review words in new contexts without having to use flashcards.
- You save words from Malay lessons that Poppy writes at your level, with English explanations.
- Saved words come back in new lessons, and you can export them to Anki.
- Clear, expressive AI voices read every lesson aloud, with a different voice for each speaker.
- You can't turn Malay novels or blogs you found into lessons. However, you can paste a passage in the chat, and Poppy will explain it line by line.
- Custom lessons cost us money to make, so you need Bubblegum Pro for unlimited custom lessons. Lessons Poppy wrote for other learners are free for everyone to read.
- Regenerative Review™
Mobile
uTalk
uTalk suits learners who want a ready-made list for a trip or a topic. The starter words are free.
- Pick a Malay topic and learn the words and phrases in it.
- Memory games bring the words back, and you can record yourself next to the speaker.
MobileWeb
Other Apps We Looked At (5)
- AnkiYou make or import a deck and write your own Malay words and meanings. Reviews are scheduled for you, and decks sync through AnkiWeb. Android uses a separate app called AnkiDroid.
- QuizletMake a set of Malay words or pick a shared one, then study with flashcards, sorting, Learn and practice tests. The person who makes the set adds the meanings.
- LingQRead or listen to Malay, or import your own, and tap words you don't know to save them. A vocabulary review then brings those words back.
- Simply Learn MalayMalay phrases with a phonetic spelling and recordings by Malaysian speakers. Save favorites to review as flashcards or quizzes, from Malay to English or the other way.
- MemolayLook up a word in its Malay–English dictionary and add it to a study list. Mark each word Remember, Vague or Forgot, and practice with multiple choice, cloze and spelling quizzes.
| App | Usable in | Learning help in | Where your words come from | How you review | Free |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bubblegum | Yes | Partly | Lessons Poppy writes | Saved words return in new lessons; Anki export | Lessons written for others |
| uTalk | Yes | Yes | Topic lists | Memory games, record and compare | Starter words |
| Anki | Yes | PartlyDepends on the deck | Decks you make or import | Scheduled reviews | Desktop and AnkiWeb free; iPhone app paid |
| Quizlet | Yes | PartlyDepends on the set | Sets you make or pick | Flashcards, sorting, Learn, tests | Basic free; Plus paid |
| LingQ | Yes | PartlyWord meanings | Malay you read or listen to | Vocabulary review | 20 saved words, 5 imports |
| Simply Learn Malay | Unconfirmed | Yes | Supplied phrases | Favorites as flashcards and quizzes | 300+ words and phrases |
| Memolay | Unconfirmed | Yes | Dictionary lookups, supplied lists | Remember, Vague, Forgot; quizzes | Free install, in-app purchases |
Which Malay vocabulary app should a beginner choose?
If you are serious about learning Malay, start with Bubblegum. Poppy, your AI tutor, writes lessons at your level about things you like. Or choose uTalk if you want a list of words for a topic, such as food or travel. For reading and listening to Malay at your level, see our Malay comprehensible input comparison.
Can I learn Malay vocabulary for free?
uTalk has free starter words, and Simply Learn Malay has 300+ words and phrases free, with PRO adding more topics. LingQ's free plan saves 20 words and imports 5 lessons, and Premium removes those limits. Anki is free on a computer, and its iPhone app is a one-time purchase.
Can I use Anki or Quizlet for Malay?
Yes. The person who makes the deck or set writes each Malay word and its meaning, so check who made a shared one. Bubblegum can send the words you save to Anki, so you can review them there. For how to learn Malay in general, see our how to learn Malay guide.
Is Bubblegum free?
Yes. Lessons Poppy wrote for other learners are free for everyone to read. Custom lessons cost us money to make, so you need Bubblegum Pro for unlimited custom lessons.
Sources
- uTalk: Malay course
- uTalk: iPhone App Store listing (languages you can use it in)
- Anki: Manual and sync with AnkiWeb
- Anki: How reviews are scheduled
- Anki: Download
- Anki: iPhone App Store listing (languages you can use it in)
- Quizlet: iPhone App Store listing (languages you can use it in)
- LingQ: Malay
- LingQ: What the free and Premium plans include
- LingQ: iPhone App Store listing (languages you can use it in)
- Simply Learn Malay: Google Play listing
- Memolay: Google Play listing
- Bubblegum
