makan
/ˈmakan/
The English phrase "to eat" is translated into Malay as makan.
The word makan refers to the act of consuming food.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
makan is the standard word for eating. In highly formal or royal contexts, specifically when referring to a monarch eating, the word santap is used instead.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈmakan/
Did you know?
- In some regional dialects, the phrase makan angin literally means 'eating wind' but is used to describe taking a vacation or going for a stroll.
- While makan is a basic verb, a Malay speaker can use the term to describe a person 'eating' through a bribe, where makan suap literally means 'to eat a spoonful' but actually refers to taking a bribe.
- If you are invited to a meal in a traditional Malay household, it is considered polite to decline slightly at first before accepting, even if you are hungry, to avoid appearing greedy.
Examples in context
- Sudah makan?Have you eaten?
- Saya mahu makan nasi lemak.I want to eat nasi lemak.
- Adakah awak sudah makan?Have you eaten yet?
- Mari kita makan bersama-sama.Let's eat together.
Example conversation
Siti and Hafiz are deciding what to do for lunch.
- SitiHafiz, jom makan tengah hari.Hafiz, let's eat lunch.
- HafizBoleh, saya pun lapar.Sure, I am hungry too.
- SitiAwak mahu makan di mana?Where do you want to eat?
- HafizKita makan di kedai itu sahaja.Let's just eat at that shop.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry makan, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
