Suffixes in colloquial Malay

Level 4

Formal Malay uses suffixes like -kan and -i to show how a verb relates to its object. In colloquial Malaysian Malay (Bahasa Melayu Pasar), these are frequently omitted to sound more natural and less 'textbook-like'.

How It Works

In standard Malay (Bahasa Melayu Baku), suffixes are used to change the 'valency' or direction of a verb. However, in daily conversation, these are often seen as too heavy or formal.

1. The -kan Suffix Reduction
The benefactive -kan (doing something for someone) is the most common suffix to be dropped. For example, instead of belikan (buy for), speakers just say beli. However, the causative -kan (making something happen) is often retained even when the prefix is dropped, such as in kecikkan (make smaller). Alternatively, speakers may replace the causative suffix with helper verbs like bagi or buat (e.g., bagi panas instead of panaskan).

2. The -i Suffix and 'kat'
The locative -i (action directed at a target) is frequently omitted. When this happens, colloquial Malay often inserts the particle kat (short for dekat) to maintain the relationship between the verb and the object. For example, menyukai dia becomes suka kat dia. Additionally, kat often replaces the standard preposition kepada (to) in directional contexts, such as cakap kat saya (talk to me).

3. Interaction with Prefixes
Suffix reduction almost always happens alongside dropping the meN- prefix. A formal word like memberitahu (to inform) is reduced to the colloquial bagitahu or simply the root beritahu in a casual setting.

4. Register and Social Distance
Using full suffixes in a casual setting can make you sound stiff or robotic. Proficiency involves knowing when to switch between these registers to match the social context.

Examples (5)

  1. Tolong beli saya kopi.

    Please buy me a coffee.

    Word by Word: Please buy me coffee.

    In formal Malay, this would be 'belikan'. In colloquial speech, the benefactive suffix is dropped, but the meaning 'buy for me' is clear from the word order.

  2. Dia suka kat awak.

    He likes you.

    Word by Word: He like at you.

    Instead of the formal 'menyukai', colloquial Malay drops the -i suffix and often inserts 'kat' (short for 'dekat') to mark the target of the emotion.

  3. Tolong bagi panas lauk ini.

    Please heat up this dish.

    Word by Word: Please give hot dish this.

    Instead of using the causative suffix -kan (panaskan), speakers often use the helper verb 'bagi' or 'buat' followed by the adjective.

  4. Kecikkan sikit suara tu.

    Turn down that volume a bit.

    Word by Word: Small-kan little voice that.

    While prefixes are dropped, the causative -kan is often retained in colloquial speech to change the state of an object, even if the formal 'memper-' prefix is gone.

  5. Kita kena hormat orang tua.

    We must respect elderly people.

    Word by Word: We must respect person old.

    Formal: 'menghormati'. Colloquial: 'hormat'. The locative/target suffix -i is dropped in this context.

Common Mistakes

  • Using colloquial reduced forms in formal writing or exams.

    Saya sudah bagitahu cikgu tentang hal itu.
    Saya telah memberitahu guru tentang hal tersebut.

    While 'bagitahu' is perfect for speaking, academic or official Malay requires the full prefix 'memberitahu'. Note that 'memberitahu' is the standard form, not 'memberitahukan'.

  • Dropping the suffix when the object relationship becomes ambiguous.

    Siti masak Ali.
    Siti masakkan Ali nasi.

    Without the -kan suffix or a clear second object, 'Siti masak Ali' literally sounds like Siti is cooking Ali as the food. Use the suffix or add the item being cooked to ensure clarity.

How It Connects

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

Suffixes in colloquial MalayLevel 4

Learn This First

Colloquial suffix reduction involves the omission or shortening of the standard transitive suffixes -kan and -i. To understand this, a learner must first be proficient in the standard usage of these suffixes and the general active verb system (meN-), as the colloquial form is defined by its deviation from these formal baselines.