bahu
/bahu/
The English phrase "shoulder" translates to Malay as bahu. Wiktionary also lists pundak.
Meaning: joint between arm and torso (noun)
Ways to say it
| Malay | IPA |
|---|---|
| bahu | /bahu/ |
| pundak |
The word refers to the joint between the arm and the torso.
Which one should you use?
While both words mean shoulder, pundak is more commonly used in colloquial or informal speech compared to the standard bahu.
How do you pronounce it?
/bahu/
Did you know?
- The word bahu is a distant linguistic relative of the English word 'arm', as both trace back to the same Proto-Indo-European root.
- In traditional Malay massage (urut), the bahu is treated as a primary point for releasing 'angin' or 'wind', a traditional concept of illness and tension.
- The term bahu can sometimes be used in a compound sense in Malay to describe the structure of a building, specifically a supporting beam.
Examples in context
- Tanda-tanda halus di sekeliling muncung dan bahu menunjukkan kekang awal.Fine markings around the muzzle and shoulder hint at an early bridle.This sentence is useful for seeing how to describe fine markings around the bahu.Tatoeba #10963249 by LeeSooHa, translation #10963228 by Cangarejo
- Bawa anak itu di atas bahu kamu.Carry the child on your shoulder.
- Dia memegang bahunya yang terluka.He held his injured shoulder.
- Tolong pijat bahuku sedikit.Please massage my shoulder a bit.
- Gadis itu tersandar di bahuku.The girl leaned on my shoulder.
- Sentiasa pastikan posisi bahu dan leher betul semasa tidur.Always ensure correct shoulder and neck positions while sleeping.
- Dia rasa sakit di bahagian bahu.He feels pain in his shoulder area.
- Beg itu terasa berat pada bahu saya.That bag feels heavy on my shoulder.
Example conversation
Nur and Amir are stretching before a workout.
- NurAmir, adakah bahu awak rasa tegang?Amir, does your shoulder feel tight?
- AmirYa, bahu kiri saya rasa sedikit kaku.Yes, my left shoulder feels a bit stiff.
- NurMari kita lakukan regangan ringan dulu.Let's do some light stretching first.
- AmirBaiklah, itu idea yang bagus.Alright, that is a good idea.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “shoulder” translations and entries bahu, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries bahu, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
