nama saya…
/ˈnamə ˈsajə/word by word
In Malay, the phrase to say "my name is" is nama saya… Wiktionary also lists nama saya ialah…
Meaning: a way to identify oneself (phrase)
Ways to say it
| Malay | IPA |
|---|---|
| nama saya… | /ˈnamə ˈsajə/ (word by word) |
| nama saya ialah… | /ˈnamə ˈsajə jəˈlah/ (word by word) |
The phrase is used to identify oneself. The phrase nama saya translates to "my name." Additionally, the word bernama can be used to mean "am called."
What does it mean word for word?
In the phrase nama saya, saya functions as the possessive pronoun "my" when placed after the noun.
Which one should you use?
nama saya ialah… is a more grammatically complete and formal version of the phrase, whereas nama saya… is the more common way to express this.
How does it change in a sentence?
When the word saya is placed after the noun nama, it functions as a possessive pronoun meaning "my."
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈnamə ˈsajə/
Did you know?
- The word saya for 'I' or 'my' originally meant 'follower' or 'companion' in Sanskrit. It evolved from the word sahaya, meaning someone who stays by your side.
- In many Malay-speaking cultures, when introducing oneself, it is common to follow your name with your social or familial role, such as 'I am the eldest son of…' to provide context.
- In formal Malay introductions, people may avoid using the word saya entirely and instead refer to themselves in the third person or by their title to show modesty.
Examples in context
- Nama saya ialah Lisa. Saya gembira dapat berjumpa dengan anda.My name is Lisa. I'm pleased to meet you.
- Nama aku Amir. Aku minat dalam seni dan muzik.I'm Amir. I'm interested in art and music.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “my name is” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (nama, saya, ialah) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ialah, nama, saya, CC BY-SA 4.0.
