ayah
/ˈajah/
ayah is the Malay word for dad.
To say 'my dad', you add the possessive pronoun saya (me/my) after the noun ayah.
Meaning: informal: a father (noun)
Which one should you use?
ayah is generally used as a term of address or a noun for a father, whereas bapa is used more as a formal title or in administrative terms (like bapa negara – father of the nation).
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Ayah is a formal and respectful term for dad equivalent to father in English. While ayah is common in casual conversation, bapa is the more formal term for father used in official contexts or formal writing. Papa is an informal term for dad or daddy integrated into the Malay language, often influenced by Western or urban speech patterns.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈajah/
Did you know?
- The word ayah has a surprising European connection, as it may have been borrowed from the Portuguese word aia, meaning a female servant or nursemaid.
Examples in context
- Sudah seminggu ayah meninggal dunia.It has been a week since dad passed away.This sentence is useful for using the form ayah when discussing someone who has passed away.Tatoeba #5900220 by Adou_Fr, translation #7594623 by feudalism
- Saya benar-benar mahu menjadi seperti ayah saya.I wanted to be just like my dad.This sentence is useful for using the form ayah when expressing admiration.Tatoeba #10657686 by imperiex, translation #8377528 by CK
- Ayah akan pulang besokDad is coming home tomorrow.This sentence is useful for using the form ayah to describe a future arrival.Tatoeba #751603 by frogprincess, translation #635618 by CM
- Ayah, boleh saya tanya satu soalan?Dad, can I ask you a question?
- Bapa saya sangat penyayang.My father is very loving.
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Ahmad and Farah are talking in the living room.
- AhmadFarah, adakah kamu nampak ayah?Farah, have you seen dad?
- FarahAyah ada di dapur, Ahmad.Dad is in the kitchen, Ahmad.
- AhmadTerima kasih, Farah.Thank you, Farah.
- FarahSama-sama.You're welcome.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry ayah, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ayah, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
