From Malay
particleexclamationfoodmamakdailyemotioninsultmoneyworkschoolfamilyfestivedrivinginternetregionalpeoplephrasecomplimentsuperstitionromancekampung
- kerja gomenA government job, prized for stability and perks.
- kesianMalay for pity, poor thing. Also kasihan.
- ketukLiterally to knock; slang for overcharging someone.
- kitakSarawakian for you.
- kitorangCasual Malay for us or we, not including the listener. From 'kita orang'.
- 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.
- kununSabahan particle meaning 'supposedly' or 'so they say', often dripping with sarcasm.
- kurang manisLess sweet. What health-conscious Malaysians say when ordering drinks.
- lahThe king of Manglish particles. Tacked onto the end of a sentence to soften it, stress it, or just make it sound Malaysian. Also spelt la, …
- lain macamStrange or different, giving off a weird vibe.
- lakiCasual Malay for husband, from 'lelaki', man.
- lawaMalay for beautiful or pretty.
- lembapSlow, sluggish, or slow-witted.
- lepakTo hang out and chill, doing nothing in particular.
- limau aisIced lime juice, the go-to thirst quencher. Teh O ais limau is iced lemon tea.
- lompat pagarJumping the school fence to escape class.
- macamMalay for like or similar to. 'Macam-macam' means all sorts.
- maiNorthern Malay for come.
- mak kau hijauA classic latah outburst (literally 'your mother is green'), blurted out when someone is startled.
- makanMalay for eat, or food. Used everywhere, in every language.
- makan anginLiterally 'eat wind'. Means going on a holiday or a relaxing trip.
- makan dalamTo suffer quietly, keeping your frustration or pain to yourself.
- makan gajiTo work as a salaried employee rather than running your own business.
- makan gaji butaGetting paid without doing any real work.
- makan hatiLiterally 'eat heart'. To feel hurt or upset inside, often silently.
- makan suapTo take a bribe.