Malay

noun

Ma·​lay mə-ˈlā  ˈmā-(ˌ)lā 

1

: a member of a people of the Malay Peninsula, eastern Sumatra, parts of Borneo, and some adjacent islands

2

: the Austronesian language of the Malays

Malay adjective

Malayan

mə-ˈlā-ən 

mā-;

ˈmā-ˌlā-

noun or adjective

Examples of Malay in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In 1858, British naturalist Alfred Russel Wallace wrote Charles Darwin a letter while burning with fever in a remote hut in the Malay Archipelago. —Scott Travers, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2025

What to order: The Malay Roll is ground chicken with tofu skin, fried and served with sweet and chili sauce for $8.95. —Melissa Oyler, Charlotte Observer, 24 Jan. 2025

Embrace Singlish English is the main teaching language in Singapore schools, but in practice, most Singaporeans speak Singlish, a hybrid language reflecting the country’s multicultural history that blends English, Mandarin, Hokkien, Malay, Cantonese, and Tamil, and has its own grammar rules. —Audrey Phoon, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Dec. 2024

Diep utilizes the Malay technique of rempah making, where tangy and herbaceous lemongrass is blended with makrut lime leaves, galangal and other aromatics, then stir-fried into a fragrant paste. —Betty Hallock, Los Angeles Times, 13 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

obsolete Dutch Malayo (now Maleier), from Malay Mĕlayu

First Known Use

1598, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

Malay

noun

Ma·​lay mə-ˈlā  ˈmā-ˌlā 

plural Malays

1

: a member of a people of the Malay Peninsula and neighboring islands

2

: the language of the Malay people

Malay adjective

Malayan

mə-ˈlā-ən 

ˈmā-ˌlā-

adjective or noun