koyak
/ˈkojak/
The Malay word for to rip is koyak.
koyak is used when describing the act of ripping or tearing materials such as paper, cloth or skin.
Meaning: to divide or separate the parts of (verb)
How does it change in a sentence?
To use this as a transitive verb meaning to rip something in a grammatically complete sentence, add the prefix me- to form mengoyak. If you want to describe something that was ripped accidentally or unintentionally, use the form terkoyak.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈkojak/
Did you know?
- In modern Malaysian slang, the word koyak is used to describe someone who is 'butthurt' or emotionally devastated after being teased or criticized.
- While koyak means 'rip', the Malay language has a separate word for 'tear' when referring to crying, which is menangis.
- When talking about a 'torn' heart in a romantic or poetic sense, Malaysians often use hancur (shattered) instead of koyak.
Examples in context
- Tuan P. Mamat telah berpulang ke rahmatullah. Semoga beliau ditempatkan di sisi Allah yang maha rahim.Tuan P. Mamat has returned to the mercy of Allah. May he be placed by the side of Allah the Most Merciful.
- Amin. Semoga rohnya diberkati dan keluarga diberi kekuatan dalam menghadapi ujian ini.Amin. May his soul be blessed and the family be given strength in facing this test.
- Abang Hassan dah pergi. Al-Fatihah untuk arwahnya.Brother Hassan has gone. Al-Fatihah for the deceased.
- Kertas itu koyak.That paper is ripped.
- Buku ini sudah koyak.This book is already ripped.
- Jangan sampai kain itu koyak.Don't let that cloth rip.
- Dia tidak sengaja koyak kertas itu.He accidentally ripped that paper.
Example conversation
Hafiz and Siti are looking at a torn shirt in the laundry room.
- HafizSiti, baju ini sudah koyak.Siti, this shirt is ripped.
- SitiDi mana bahagian yang koyak itu?Where is the ripped part?
- HafizBahagian lengan sudah koyak sedikit.The sleeve is slightly ripped.
- SitiMari kita jahit bahagian yang koyak itu.Let's sew that ripped part.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry koyak, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries koyak, CC BY-SA 4.0.
