lapar
/ˈlapa(r)/
The English word "hungry" is translated into Malay as lapar.
lapar is used to describe being affected by hunger or having a desire for food. To intensify this feeling in an informal context, you may hear the expression lapar giler.
Meaning: affected by hunger, desirous of food (adj)
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈlapa(r)/
Did you know?
- While lapar refers to physical hunger, if you want to say you are 'hungry' for success or fame, Malay speakers often use the word dahaga, which literally means 'thirsty'.
- In some traditional contexts, the phrase lapar mata literally means 'hungry eyes' and describes the feeling of wanting to eat something just because it looks delicious, even if you are not actually lapar.
- In colloquial Malay, the word giler in lapar giler actually means 'crazy'. Using it here transforms the sentence into 'crazy hungry'.
Examples in context
- Tom memberitahu saya bahawa dia tidak lapar.Tom told me he wasn't hungry.This sentence shows how to use lapar to state that someone is not hungry.Tatoeba #9688068 by imperiex, translation #4311137 by CK
- Saya terlalu lapar sampaikan saya boleh makan apa sahaja.I was hungry enough to eat anything.This sentence demonstrates using lapar to describe an intense level of hunger.Tatoeba #9689061 by imperiex, translation #8351849 by CK
- Saya tidak lapar kerana saya fikir saya akan menjadi.I wasn't as hungry as I thought I'd be.This sentence illustrates a comparison regarding the level of hunger felt.Tatoeba #10937571 by LeeSooHa, translation #10820475 by CK
- Saya lapar.I am hungry.
- Kami merasa lapar.We feel hungry.
- Aku lapar giler ni!I'm super hungry!
- 6 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Farah and Muhammad are deciding what to eat for lunch.
- FarahMuhammad, adakah awak lapar?Muhammad, are you hungry?
- MuhammadYa, saya rasa lapar.Yes, I feel hungry.
- FarahMari kita pergi makan tengah hari.Let's go have lunch.
- MuhammadIdea yang bagus, Farah.That is a good idea, Farah.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “hungry” translations and entries lapar, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
