berak
/ˈberak/
The Malay word for poop is berak.
Meaning: feces (noun)
Which one should you use?
In contrast, buang air besar is the polite expression used for the same act and tinja is used when referring to the feces themselves in a formal way.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
berak is an informal and blunt way to say 'to poop'. Because of this, it can be considered rude or impolite in formal settings or when speaking to elders. For a more polite and formal way to express defecating, use the phrase buang air besar. If you need to refer to feces as a noun in a formal context, use tinja.
How does it change in a sentence?
berak functions as a verb in Malay.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈberak/
Did you know?
- The polite phrase buang air besar literally translates to 'discard large water'.
- Malay has a separate polite term for urinating, buang air kecil, which means 'throwing small water'.
- The phrase buang air besar is part of a linguistic pattern where 'air' (water) is used as a placeholder for various bodily functions to maintain politeness.
Examples in context
- Kucing itu baru sahaja berak di sini.That cat just pooped here.
- Adik sedang berak di dalam bilik air.Little brother is pooping in the bathroom.
- Jangan biarkan anjing itu berak di halaman rumah.Don't let that dog poop in the yard.
Example conversation
Muhammad is helping Aishah take care of their puppy.
- MuhammadAishah, tengok anjing kita ini!Aishah, look at our dog!
- AishahKenapa? Apa yang berlaku?Why? What happened?
- MuhammadDia baru sahaja berak di sini.He just pooped right here.
- AishahAduh, cepat cuci tempat itu.Oh dear, quickly clean that spot.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry berak, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
