hei
The English phrase 'hey' is translated into Malay as hei.
hei is an interjection used to call out to someone to get their attention or to express a sudden realization or surprise, much like the English 'hey!'
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
hei is an informal interjection used for casual greetings or to grab someone's attention.
Did you know?
- To be polite when getting attention, Malay speakers will often avoid hei entirely and instead use a soft tumpang tanya which literally means 'borrowing a question'.
- In some regional dialects of Malay, adding the particle lah to the end of an interjection like hei lah changes the tone from a simple call to one of frustration or impatience.
- While hei is used for attention, a high-pitched oi! is common in casual settings and carries a more urgent or commanding tone.
Examples in context
- Hei, tunggu saya!Hey, wait for me!
- Hei, apa khabar?Hey, how are you?
- Hei, tengok ni.Hey, look at this.
Example conversation
Hafiz sees Nur walking in a park.
- HafizHei, Nur!Hey, Nur!
- NurEh, Hafiz. Hai!Oh, Hafiz. Hi!
- HafizAwak nak ke mana?Where are you going?
- NurSaya hendak ke kedai.I am going to the shop.
