yang pertama

First with Yang Pertama

Level 1

Use yang pertama to identify the first item in a sequence or to say 'the first one.' Unlike other ordinal numbers that use the ke- prefix, 'first' uses the unique word pertama.

How It Works

1. The Unique Form of 'First'
While most numbers in Malay follow a predictable pattern for ordinals (e.g., kedua for second, ketiga for third), the word for 'first' is pertama. You will almost never hear 'kesatu' in standard Malaysian Malay.

2. Using 'Yang' for Specificity
The word pertama can follow a noun directly (e.g., kali pertama - first time). However, adding yang turns the phrase into a specific identifier ('the first').

  • Noun + yang pertama: Anak yang pertama (The first child).
  • Standing alone: Yang pertama ialah... (The first one is...).

3. Fixed Expressions
A very common phrase used to start a list or speech is pertama sekali, which means 'first of all' or 'firstly'.

4. Important Exception: Dates
Unlike English, Malay does not use ordinal numbers for dates. To say 'the 1st of the month', you use the cardinal number satu (e.g., 1 Januari or satu haribulan), never pertama Januari.

5. Word Order
In Malay, descriptors follow the noun. Therefore, yang pertama always comes after the object it is describing. You cannot place it before the noun like in English.

Examples (4)

  1. Dia merupakan anak yang pertama.

    He/she is the first child.

    Word by Word: He/she is child that first.

    Here, 'yang pertama' follows the noun 'anak' (child) to specify their rank in the family.

  2. Ini adalah kali yang pertama saya ke sini.

    This is the first time I have been here.

    Word by Word: This is time that first I to here.

    In this sentence, 'yang pertama' identifies a specific instance (the first time).

  3. Yang pertama, kita perlu berbincang.

    First (the first thing), we need to discuss.

    Word by Word: That first, we need discuss.

    When starting a list or a sequence of points, 'yang pertama' can stand alone to mean 'the first thing' or 'firstly'.

  4. Saya mahu buku yang pertama itu.

    I want that first book.

    Word by Word: I want book that first that.

    This shows how 'yang pertama' is used to pick out a specific item from a group of books.

Common Mistakes

  • Using 'kesatu' instead of 'pertama'.

    Ini hari kesatu saya.
    Ini hari pertama saya.

    Learners often try to apply the 'ke-' prefix rule to the number one (satu), but 'kesatu' is not standard. Always use 'pertama'.

  • Placing 'pertama' before the noun.

    Saya suka pertama buku.
    Saya suka buku yang pertama.

    In Malay, adjectives and ordinals must follow the noun they describe.

  • Using 'pertama' for dates.

    Hari ini ialah satu Januari pertama.
    Hari ini ialah satu Januari.

    When referring to the first day of the month, Malay uses the cardinal number 'satu' (often followed by 'haribulan') rather than the ordinal 'pertama'.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

yang pertamaLevel 1First with Yang Pertama

Learn This First

To understand 'yang pertama', learners need to be familiar with how ordinal numbers are formed in Malay (specifically the irregular 'pertama') and the basic word order where modifiers follow the noun.

Words in This Pattern

pertama