Riau Malay phrasebook Voyage Tips and guide

Riau Malay (locally known as bahase Melayu Riau) is commonly claimed to be the "purest" variety of Malay language. It is natively spoken in eastern regions of the island of Sumatra within the state/province of Riau.

Significance

Having heavy linguistic influences from another languages, Riau Malay was used as the main base of Standard Malay, which is a standardized variety of Malay developed by Riau's noblemen to serve as the language unifier for Malays in several regions of Sumatra, as well as in Riau Islands (which also used to include the island of Singapore). From Singapore, the popularity of Riau Malay later also spread to the neighbouring region of Johor as well as Malacca (part of modern-day Malaya/Malaysia), and served as a lingua franca for another Indonesian-origin multiethnic groups of Javanese, Palembang, Minangkabau, Bugis, and Banjar who settled in that region; however, only the Malays who speak Malay predominantly, respective ethnic groups might also be able to speak in their own native languages.

Valued as the High Malay variety and of Sumatran origin, the Riau Malay (and another Malay varieties in general) recognized as one of the national Intangible Heritages of the Republic of Indonesia. It is the co-official language of Riau, and its development and originality also managed by the Official Linguistic Center of Riau, located in the state/province of Riau.

Understand

As a multilingual country, Indonesia has many regional native ethnic languages. Standard Indonesian is widely spoken nationally all across Indonesia, but many other languages are commonly spoken, so it is important to differentiate between the "local spoken language" and "national language". Riau Malay served as an ethnic language of the Malay ethnic group, distinctively unique to eastern Sumatra regions, namely the state/province(s) of Riau, Riau Islands, and northern Jambi (spoken in modern countries of Singapore and Malaysia as well).

Some false friends can also be found between Standard Indonesian and respective languages (which also including Riau Malay), simply because the Indonesian language was formed from all languages spoken throughout the country (and one of them is Riau Malay); and if you are a person from outside of Indonesia (notably from India and China) or outside of Malay-speaking regions of Indonesia (notably from Java), you can find abundance of false friends between these languages as well, so some words might be perceived differently and shared different meanings, thus it is important to learn these language variety known as "Riau Malay".

Pronunciation guide

The Riau Malay as an original form of Malay has super persistent pronunciation (and writing). It shared slightly different system compared to its descendants variety, namely the Malaysian Malay and Singapore Malay (both diverged in 1970s) which utterly can be specified as English-based Malay using full English pronunciation (and writing) which they experience some sort of difficulty to differentiate the pronunciation between the vowels of a, e, i, and o.

Vowels

A (a): as in father
E (e): as in student
E (e): as in ten
U (u): as in rule
O (o): as in open
I (i): as in machine
ai: as in Thailand
ui: as in Louie

Consonants

b: like 'b' in "bed"
c: like 'ch' in "China"
d: like 'd' in "dog"
f: like 'ph' in "phone"
g: like 'g' in "go"
h: like 'h' in "help"
j: like 'dg' in "edge"
k: like 'c' in "cat"
l: like 'l' in "love"
m: like 'm' in "mother"
n: like 'n' in "nice"
p: like 'p' in "pig"
q: like 'q' in "quest" (with "u", almost always)
r: like 'r' in "row", like 'r' in "feather"
s: like 'ss' in "hiss"
t: like 't' in "top"
v: like 'v' in "victory"
w: like 'w' in "weight"
x: like 'cks' in "kicks"
y: like 'y' in "yes"
z: like 'z' in "haze"

Common digraphs

ai: like 'ai' in "aH-ee"
au: like 'aw' in "awe"

oi: like 'oy' in "boy"
ou: like 'ow' in "grow"

kh: like 'kh' in "khaki"
sy: like 'sh' in "sheep"

Phrase list

Basics

Hello.: Halo.
Hello. (informal): Hei.
How are you?: Ape khabar?
Fine, thank you.: Khabar baik je, terime kasih ye.
What is your name?: Sape name mike?
My name is ______ .: Name sahaye ______ .
Nice to meet you.: Seronok boleh berjumpe dengan mike.
Please.: Sile.
Thank you.: Terime kasih.
You're welcome.: Terime kasih kembali. / Same-same.
Yes.: Iye. / Ye.
No.: Tidak. / Tak.
Excuse me. (getting attention): Tumpang tanye.
Excuse me. (begging pardon): Maaf ye.
I'm sorry.: Saye minte maaf.
Goodbye: Jumpe lagi ye.
Goodbye (informal): Dadah.
I can't speak Riau Malay [well].: Saye ni tak pandai berborak bahase Melayu Riau [secare helok].
Do you speak English?: Mike berborak bahase Inggris tak?
Is there someone here who speaks English?: Ade kat sini yang boleh berborak bahase Inggris?
Help!: Bantu! / Tolong!
Look out!: Tengok helok-helok!
Good morning.: Selamat pagi.
Good afternoon.: Selamat tengah hari.
Good evening.: Selamat petang.
Good night.: Selamat malam.
Good night (to sleep): Selamat tidur.
I don't understand.: Saye tak faham.
Where is the toilet?: Dekat mane ye tandas?

Problems

Leave me alone.: Biarkan je saye sorang-sorang.
Don't touch me!: Jangan jamah saye!
I'll call the police.: Saye nak panggil polisi.
Police!: Polisi!
Stop! Thief!: Berhenti! Pencuri!
I need your help.: Saye perlukan bantuan mike.
It's an emergency.: Ini kecemasan.
I'm lost.: Saye kene sesat.
I lost my bag.: Tas saye hilang.
I lost my wallet.: Dompet saye hilang.
I'm sick.: Saye sakit. / Saye tak saihat.
I've been injured.: Saye kene luke.
I need a doctor.: Saye perlukan dokter.
Can I use your phone?: Boleh saye nak pinjam hape mike?

Numbers

1: satu
2: due
3: tige
4: empat
5: lime
6: enam
7: tujuh
8: delapan
9: sembilan
10: sepuluh
11: satu belas / sebelas
12: due belas
13: tige belas
14: empat belas
15: lime belas
16: enam belas
17: tujuh belas
18: delapan belas
19: sembilan belas
20: due puluh
21: due puluh satu
22: due puluh due
23: due puluh tige
30: tige puluh
40: empat puluh
50: lime puluh
60: enam puluh
70: tujuh puluh
80: delapan puluh
90: sembilan puluh
100: satu ratus / seratus
200: due ratus
300: tige ratus
1000: satu ribu / seribu
2000: due ribu
1,000,000: satu jute
1,000,000,000: satu miliar
1,000,000,000,000: satu triliun
number _____ (train, bus, etc.): nomer _____
half: separuh
less: kurang
more: lebih

Time

now: mase ni
later: nanti
before: sebelum
after: selepas
morning: pagi
afternoon: tengah hari
evening: petang
night: malam

Clock time

one o'clock AM: pukul satu pagi bute
two o'clock AM: pukul due pagi bute
noon: tengah hari
one o'clock PM: pukul satu tengah hari
two o'clock PM: pukul due tengah hari
midnight: mase tengah malam

Duration

_____ second(s): _____ saat
_____ minute(s): _____ menit
_____ hour(s): _____ jam
_____ day(s): _____ hari
_____ week(s): _____ pekan
_____ month(s): _____ bulan
_____ year(s): _____ tahun

Days

today: hari ini / harini
yesterday: semalam
tomorrow: hari esok / esok
this week: pekan ini / pekan ni
last week: pekan lepas
next week: pekan kehadapan

Sunday: Ahad
Monday: Isnin
Tuesday: Selase
Wednesday: Rabu
Thursday: Khamis
Friday: Jumaat
Saturday: Sabat / Sabtu

Months

January: Bulan satu / Januari
February: Bulan due / Februari
March: Bulan tige / Maret
April: Bulan empat / April
May: Bulan lime / May
June: Bulan enam / Juni
July: Bulan tujuh / Juli
August: Bulan delapan / Agustus
September: Bulan sembilan / September
October: Bulan sepuluh / Oktober
November: Bulan sebelas / November
December: Bulan due belas / Desember

Writing time and date

Give some examples how to write clock times and dates if it differs from English.

Colors

black: hitam
white: putih
gray: kelabu
red: merah
blue: biru
yellow: kuning
green: hijau
orange: oranye
purple / indigo: nile
brown: ;cokelat

Transportation

Bus and train

How much is a ticket to _____?: Berape ye harge tiket kalau nak pergi ke _____?
One ticket to _____, please.: Nak beli satu tiket untuk pergi ke _____.
Where does this train/bus go?: Nak pergi kat mane kerete api/bus ni?
Where is the train/bus to _____?: Dekat mane kerete api/bus untuk ke _____?
Does this train/bus stop in _____?: Kerete api/bus ni berhenti kat _____ ke?
When does the train/bus for _____ leave?: Bile mase kerete api/bus untuk _____ nak pergi?
When will this train/bus arrive in _____?: Bile kerete api/bus ni nak tibe dekat _____?

Directions

How do I get to _____ ?: Macam mane saye boleh pergi ke ______?
...the train station?: ...stasiun kerete api?
...the bus station?: ...stasiun bus?
...the airport?: ...bandare (bandar udare)?
...downtown?: ...pusat kote?
...the youth hostel?: ...hostel khas bujang?
...the _____ hotel?: ...hotel _____?
...the American/Canadian/Australian/British consulate?: ...konsulat Amerike/Kanade/Austrelie/Inggris?
Where are there a lot of...: Dekat mane yang ade banyak...
...hotels?: ...hotel?
...restaurants?: ...rumah makan?
...bars?: ...bar?
...sites to see?: ...situs/tempat yang boleh dilancong?
Can you show me on the map?: Boleh mike tunjuk tak yang mane satu kat pete ni?
street: jalan
Turn left.: Pusing kiri.
Turn right.: Pusing kanan.
left: kiri
right: kanan
straight ahead: terus je
towards the _____: menuju _____
past the _____: lalu _____
before the _____: sebelum _____
in front of the _____: ade kat depan _____
behind the _____: kat belakang _____
Watch for the _____.: Kene perati pasal _____.
intersection: persimpangan
inside: dekat dalam
outside: dekat luar
north: utare
south: selatan
east: timur
west: bharat
uphill: tanjakan
downhill: turunan

Taxi

Taxi!: Taksi!
Take me to _____, please.: Boleh hantar saye ke _____.
How much does it cost to get to _____?: Berape duit kalau nak pergi ke _____?
Take me there, please.: Hantar saye dekat sane ye.

Lodging

Do you have any rooms available?: Ade bilik yang masih kosong lagi tak?
How much is a room for one person/two people?: Berape duit kalau nak bilik untuk sorang-sorang/due orang?
Does the room come with...: Bilik ni ade ... sekali tak?
...bedsheets: ...sprei
...a bathroom: ...tandas
...a telephone?: ...telepon
...a TV?: ...tivi
May I see the room first?: Boleh saye nak tengok bilik dulu?
Do you have anything...: Ade yang...
...quieter?: ...lagi sunyi?
...bigger?: ...lagi besak?
...cleaner?: ...lagi bersih?
...cheaper?: ...lagi murah?
OK, I'll take it.: Okei, saye nak ambik yang ni.
I will stay for _____ night(s).: Saye nak menginap untuk _____ malam.
Can you suggest another hotel?: Boleh cadangkan hotel yang lain tak?
Do you have a safe...?: Kat sini ade bende gune nak amankan...?
...lockers?: ...loker?
Is breakfast/supper included?: Makan pagi/malam dah termasuk sekali?
What time is breakfast/supper?: Bile mase untuk makan pagi/malam?
Please clean my room.: Bantu bersihkan bilik saye ye.
Can you wake me at _____?: Boleh tak mike bangunkan saye pukul _____?
I want to check out.: Saye nak keluar daripade hotel.

Money

Do you accept American/Australian/Canadian dollars?: Dekat sini boleh bayar gune duit dolar Amerika/Australie/Kanade tak?
Do you accept British pounds?: Dekat sini boleh bayar gune duit ponsterling Inggris?
Do you accept credit cards?: Dekat sini boleh bayar gune kartu kredit?
Can you change money for me?: Boleh tak mike bantu saye nak tukarkan duit?
Where can I get money changed?: Dekat mane ye saye boleh menukar duit?
Can you change a traveler's check for me?: Boleh tak mike bantu saye ubah cek pelancong?
Where can I get a traveler's check changed?: Dekat mane ye saye boleh menukar cek pelancongan?
What is the exchange rate?: Nilai tukar duit harini berape ye?
Where is an automatic teller machine (ATM)?: Dekat mane ye ATM?

Eating

A table for one person/two people, please.: Saye nak meje untuk sorang-sorang/due orang ye.
Can I look at the menu, please?: Boleh saye tengok menu?
Can I look in the kitchen?: Boleh ke tak kalau saye nak tengok dekat dapur?
Is there a house specialty?: Ade tak makanan khas rumahan dekat sini?
Is there a local specialty?: Ade tak makanan khas tempatan dekat sini?
I'm a vegetarian.: Saye vegetarian
I don't eat pork.: Saye tak makan daging babi.
I don't eat beef.: Saye tak makan daging lembu.
I only eat halal food.: Saye makan makanan halal je.
Can you make it "lite", please? (less oil/butter/lard): Boleh tak mike buat sikit je (minyak/mentege/lemak)?
fixed-price meal: makanan harge pas
a la carte: ala karte
breakfast: makan pagi
lunch: makan siang
tea (meal): teh
supper: makan malam
I want _____.: Saye nak _____.
I want a dish containing _____.: Saye nak hidangan yang mengandungi _____.
chicken: daging ayam
beef: daging lembu
fish: daging ikan
ham: ham
sausage: sosis
cheese: keju
eggs: telur
salad: salad
(fresh) vegetables: sayur-sayur (segar)
(fresh) fruit: buah (segar)
bread: roti
toast: bakar
noodles: mi
rice: nasi
beans: kekacang / kacang-kacang
May I have a glass of _____?: Boleh tak saye nak segelas _____?
May I have a cup of _____?: Boleh tak saye nak secangkir _____?
May I have a bottle of _____?: Boleh tak saye nak sebotol _____?
coffee: kopi
tea (drink): teh
juice: jus
(bubbly) water: air soda
water: air
beer: bir
red/white wine: anggur merah/putih
May I have some _____?: Boleh tak saye nak tambah sikit _____?
salt: garam
black pepper: lade hitam
butter: mentega
Excuse me, waiter? (getting attention of server): Tumpang permisi, akak/abang?
I'm finished.: Saye dah selesai.
It was delicious.: Sedap sangat.
Please clear the plates.: Bersihkan pinggan-pinggan tu ye.
The check, please.: Akak/abang, nak nota untuk bayar.

Bars

Do you serve alcohol?: Dekat sini ade hidang alkohol tak?
Is there table service?: Ade meje hidang ke tak?
A beer/two beers, please.: Nak satu/due bir ye.
A glass of red/white wine, please.: Nak satu gelas anggur merah/putih ye.
A pint, please.: Nak separuh liter je ye.
A bottle, please.: Nak sebotol ye.
whiskey: wiski
vodka: vodka
rum: rum
water: air
club soda: soda klub
tonic water: air tonik
orange juice: jus jeruk
Coke (soda): Koka-kola
Do you have any bar snacks?: Ade snek batangan tak?
One more, please.: Nak satu lagi.
Another round, please.: Ronde lain lagi.
When is closing time?: Bile mase nak tutup?
Cheers!: Sulang!

Shopping

Do you have this in my size?: Ade ukuran saye tak untuk yang ni?
How much is this?: Kalau yang ni berape?
That's too expensive.: Mahalnye. / Mahal sangat lah.
Would you take _____?: Nak tak ambik _____?
expensive: mahal
cheap: murah
I can't afford it.: Tak mampu lah saye.
I don't want it.: Saye tak nak.
You're cheating me.: Mike ni tipu je.
I'm not interested.: Saye tak minat.
OK, I'll take it.: Okei, saya nak ambik.
Can I have a bag?: Dapat tas tak?
Do you ship (overseas)?: Mike boleh kirim (luar negare)?
I need...: Saye perlu...
...toothpaste.: ...ubat gigi.
...a toothbrush.: ...sikat gigi.
...tampons.: ...pembalut.
...soap.: ...sabun.
...shampoo.: ...sampo.
...pain reliever. (e.g., aspirin or ibuprofen): ...perede nyeri.
...cold medicine.: ...ubat flu.
...stomach medicine.: ...ubat sakit perut.
...a razor.: ...pisau cukur.
...an umbrella.: ...payung.
...sunblock lotion.: ...tabir surye.
...a postcard.: ...kartu pos.
...postage stamps.: ...stempel ongkos kirim.
...batteries.: ...baterai.
...writing paper.: ...kertas.
...a pen.: ...pulpen.
...English-language books.: ...buku berbahase Inggris.
...English-language magazines.: ...majalah berbahase Inggris.
...an English-language newspaper.: ...surat khabar berbahase Inggris.
...an English-English dictionary.: ...kamus bahase Inggris.

Driving

I want to rent a car.: Saye nak sewe kerete.
Can I get insurance?: Boleh dapat asuransi tak?
stop (on a street sign): berhenti
one way: satu arah
no parking: takleh parkir
speed limit: batas kelajuan
gas (petrol) station: pom bensin
petrol: petrol
diesel: disel

Authority

I haven't done anything wrong.: Saye tak buat kesilapan.
It was a misunderstanding.: Tu tersilap faham je.
Where are you taking me?: Mike nak hantar saye kat mane?
Am I under arrest?: Saye kene tahan ke ni?
I am an American/Australian/British/Canadian citizen.: Saye wargenegare Amerike/Austrelie/Kanade.
I want to talk to the American/Australian/British/Canadian embassy/consulate.: Saye nak berborak dengan konsulat Amerike/Australie/Inggris/Kanade.
I want to talk to a lawyer.: Saye nak berborak dengan pengacare.
Can I just pay a fine now?: Boleh tak saye bayar dende je mase ni?

Idioms

Learning more

This Riau Malay phrasebook is a usable article. It explains pronunciation and the bare essentials of travel communication. An adventurous person could use this article, but please feel free to improve it by editing the page.