Starting with K
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- KepamTo describe damp or poorly dried item (often described as bau kepam, hapak, or masam).
- kerekArrogant, cocky.
- kerja gomenA government job, prized for stability and perks.
- kesianMalay for pity, poor thing. Also kasihan.
- ketukLiterally to knock; slang for overcharging someone.
- kiam siapHokkien for stingy.
- kiasuHokkien for 'afraid to lose'. That competitive urge to grab the best, the most, or the first.
- kitakSarawakian for you.
- kitorangCasual Malay for us or we, not including the listener. From 'kita orang'.
- kokoOlder brother, from Chinese 'gor gor'. Also gor gor, kor kor.
- kongsiTo share, from Hokkien.
- kopi OBlack coffee with sugar, no milk. Kopi O kosong means no sugar either.
- kopi pengIced coffee with milk. 'Peng' is Hokkien for ice.
- kopitiamA traditional Chinese coffee shop with marble tables, kaya toast and old-school drinks.
- korangCasual Malay for you guys, from 'kau orang'.
- kotMalay for 'maybe' or 'I guess', added to sound unsure. Also spelt kut.
- kow kowExtra strong or very, very much. Kopi kow kow is super thick coffee. Also spelt kaw kaw, kaw.
- kowpehHokkien slang for complaining non-stop. The full version is kow peh kow bu.
- kuliA labourer doing grunt work; also used jokingly for an overworked employee.
- kununSabahan particle meaning 'supposedly' or 'so they say', often dripping with sarcasm.
- kurang manisLess sweet. What health-conscious Malaysians say when ordering drinks.