maafkan saya
The English phrase "excuse me" can be translated into Malay as maafkan saya.
In Malay, maafkan saya is used to apologize for a mistake or to ask for forgiveness. While English speakers often use "excuse me" to get someone's attention, maafkan saya is primarily focused on the act of apologizing.
Meaning: sorry, as apology (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase maafkan saya literally translates to "forgive me", where maaf means forgiveness and saya means I or me.
Which one should you use?
If your intention is to say "excuse me" specifically to get someone's attention to ask a question, do not use maafkan saya. Instead, use tumpang tanya, which literally means "borrowing a question".
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Maafkan saya is a polite and standard way to apologize, making it suitable for both formal and informal situations.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Avoid using maafkan saya when you simply want to get someone's attention to ask a question. Use tumpang tanya in those instances instead.
Did you know?
- In very formal settings, saya may be replaced by hamba, a term that translates to 'slave' to show extreme humility.
- The phrase tumpang tanya uses the verb tumpang, which generally means 'to hitch a ride' or 'to stay temporarily'.
- The word saya is a shortened form of sahaya, which originally comes from the Sanskrit word sahāya meaning 'follower'.
Examples in context
- Maafkan saya, saya tersesat.Excuse me, I'm lost.This sentence is useful for practicing how to use maafkan saya when admitting you are lost.Tatoeba #720190 by Skaty, translation #51482 by autuno
- Maafkan saya, boleh saya tanya?Excuse me, can I ask?
- Maafkan saya kerana datang lambat.Forgive me for coming late.
Example conversation
Hafiz accidentally knocks over Aishah's book.
- HafizEh, maafkan saya, Aishah!Oh, please forgive me, Aishah!
- AishahTidak mengapa, Hafiz.It's alright, Hafiz.
- HafizBiar saya tolong ambilkan.Let me help you pick it up.
- AishahTerima kasih banyak.Thank you very much.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “excuse me” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries saya, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
