# Malaysian

/məˈɫeɪʒən/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/malaysian
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. relating to the country

adjective · CEFR A2

related to the country of Malaysia or its people.

For teachers: pertaining to the nation-state of Malaysia or its inhabitants.

- We enjoyed some delicious Malaysian food at the new restaurant downtown.
- The Malaysian government recently announced new initiatives to promote sustainable tourism across the peninsula and Borneo.

Usage: Always capitalized as it is a proper adjective.

### 2. a person

noun · CEFR A2

a person who comes from Malaysia.

For teachers: a citizen or native of Malaysia.

- My roommate is a Malaysian who moved here to study engineering.
- As a proud Malaysian, she often shared stories about the multicultural festivals celebrated in her hometown of Kuala Lumpur.

Usage: Always capitalized as it is a proper noun.

### 3. the language

noun · CEFR B1

the form of the Malay language spoken in Malaysia.

For teachers: the variety of the Malay language that serves as the national language of Malaysia.

- He is fluent in English, but he is still learning to speak Malaysian.
- While Indonesian and Malaysian are mutually intelligible, they possess distinct differences in vocabulary and phonology.

Usage: Often referred to locally as Bahasa Malaysia.

## Examples

- My new neighbor is a Malaysian who moved here last year.
- The conference brought together a diverse group of professionals, including a Malaysian engineer and a Thai architect.
- While the delegation included several different ethnic groups, every Malaysian present shared a common commitment to the nation's vision for economic growth.

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