bahawa

Content Clauses with Bahawa

Level 2

Bahawa is a formal conjunction used to introduce content clauses (noun clauses). It connects a verb of thinking or saying to the specific information being shared. While common in writing and formal speeches, it is often omitted in casual conversation.

How It Works

The word bahawa is essential for formal Malay logic and clarity. It is primarily used in three ways:

After Verbs of Communication/Cognition: It follows verbs like berkata (to say), mengetahui (to know), percaya (to believe), and menjelaskan (to explain). In formal contexts, these verbs usually take their meN- prefix forms.
As a Noun Complement: It can follow abstract nouns to explain what they are, such as kenyataan (fact) or berita (news).
As a Subject Clause: Bahawa can be placed at the very beginning of a sentence to turn an entire statement into the subject of the sentence (e.g., Bahawa dia rajin sudah diketahui umum - That he is hardworking is already publicly known).

Formal Variants: In legal, religious, or highly ceremonial contexts, you may encounter bahawasanya, which is an intensified, more emphatic version of bahawa.

Register Note: In casual speech, Malaysians rarely use bahawa. They either omit it entirely or use yang as a substitute, though using yang this way is technically incorrect in formal writing.

Examples (5)

Saya mengetahui bahawa dia seorang guru.
I know that he is a teacher.
Word by Word: I know that he one-person teacher.
In formal writing, the prefixed verb 'mengetahui' is preferred over the root 'tahu' when introducing a content clause.
Cikgu memberitahu kami bahawa sekolah akan ditutup esok.
The teacher told us that the school will be closed tomorrow.
Word by Word: Teacher inform us that school will be-closed tomorrow.
In this formal sentence, 'bahawa' introduces the specific information the teacher shared.
Kenyataan bahawa dia tidak bersalah telah diterima.
The fact that he is not guilty has been accepted.
Word by Word: Fact that he not guilty already be-accepted.
This shows 'bahawa' following a noun (kenyataan) to explain the content of that fact.
Bahawa dia seorang yang jujur memang tidak dapat dinafikan.
That he is an honest person indeed cannot be denied.
Word by Word: That he one-person who honest indeed not can be-denied.
Here, 'bahawa' starts the sentence, turning the entire clause 'he is an honest person' into the subject of the sentence.
Bahawasanya kami berjanji akan setia kepada negara.
That we truly promise to be loyal to the country.
Word by Word: That-truly we promise will loyal to country.
This uses the intensified variant 'bahawasanya', common in formal oaths and proclamations.

Common Mistakes

Using 'yang' instead of 'bahawa' in formal writing.
Dia berkata yang dia akan datang.
Dia berkata bahawa dia akan datang.
'Yang' is a relative pronoun for describing nouns, so careful writing avoids it after 'berkata'. Use 'bahawa' to introduce the statement, or leave the linker out.
Adding 'tentang' (about) before 'bahawa'.
Saya tahu tentang bahawa dia sakit.
Saya tahu bahawa dia sakit.
Learners often try to say 'know about that', but in Malay, 'bahawa' directly follows the verb without a preposition.

How It Connects

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bahawaLevel 2Content Clauses with Bahawa

Learn This First

To use 'bahawa' (that), you need to be able to form a complete sentence (SVO) that will serve as the content clause, and you should be familiar with the active verbs that typically introduce these clauses.

meN-Active Transitive Verbs with MeN-
Bahawa is typically used after verbs of saying, thinking, or knowing, which in Malay are frequently active transitive verbs using the meN- prefix (e.g., mengatakan, mengetahui).
Level 2

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