A Small Jawi–Rumi Glossary
Here are a few everyday Malay words written in both Jawi and Rumi:
Jawi | Rumi | English |
بهاس | bahasa | language |
ملايو | Melayu | Malay |
مليسيا | Malaysia | Malaysia |
ماکن | makan | eat |
مينوم | minum | drink |
رومه | rumah | house / home |
سکوله | sekolah | school |
کاون | kawan | friend |
تريما کاسيه | terima kasih | thank you |
سلامت داتڠ | selamat datang | welcome |
جوم | jom | let's go / come on |
کلوار | keluar | go out / exit |
ماسوق | masuk | enter / go in |
کلوارݢ | keluarga | family |
چنتا | cinta | love |
کاسih | kasih | affection / love |
Short Sentences
Jawi:
ساي بلاجر بهاس ملايو.
Rumi:
Saya belajar bahasa Melayu.
English:
I am learning Malay.
Jawi:
ساي سوک ماکن ناسي لماک.
Rumi:
Saya suka makan nasi lemak.
English:
I like eating nasi lemak.
Jawi:
تريما کاسيه دان سلامت داتڠ.
Rumi:
Terima kasih dan selamat datang.
English:
Thank you and welcome.
Try Reading It
Can you read this?
ساي سوک بهاس ملايو.
Answer:
Saya suka bahasa Melayu.
English:
I like the Malay language.
The more you look at Jawi, the more familiar it becomes. And once you begin recognising the patterns, you start to see something fascinating: the letters may look different, but the Malay language is still there.