duduk
/ˈdudok/
The English verb sit is translated into Malay as duduk.
The primary meaning of duduk is to be in a position where the upper body is upright and the legs are supported. However, duduk can also be used to mean to reside or live in a certain place.
Meaning: of a person, be in a position in which the upper body is upright and the legs are supported (verb)
How does it change in a sentence?
To express the continuous action of sitting, you can use the word sedang before duduk.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is /ˈdudok/.
Did you know?
- In traditional Malay culture, the way one uses duduk is strictly governed by social hierarchy. For example, it is traditionally considered impolite for a younger person to duduk in a chair while an elder remains standing.
- In formal Malay, there are specific terms for the manner of using duduk. For instance, bersila describes the specific way of sitting cross-legged on the floor, which is the traditional way to duduk during meals.
- When asking someone to duduk in a very formal or royal context, standard Malay words are replaced by 'bahasa istana' or court language, where different terms are used to avoid being overly blunt.
Examples in context
- Sila duduk.Please sit down.This sentence is useful for learning how to say Please sit down using duduk.Tatoeba #961134 by Adou_Fr, translation #415594 by CM
- Mary akan duduk diam dan merenung ke arah laut selama berjam-jam.Mary will sit still and look at the sea for hours.This sentence is useful for describing someone who will sit still using duduk.Tatoeba #9713976 by imperiex, translation #31769 by AlanF_US
- Saya rasa kita perlu duduk bersama-sama.I think we should sit together.This sentence is useful for suggesting that people should sit together using duduk.Tatoeba #8938267 by LeeSooHa, translation #8937918 by CK
- Mohon duduk.Please have a seat.
- 2 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Muhammad and Nur are waiting for a bus at a station.
- MuhammadNur, mari kita duduk di sini.Nur, let's sit here.
- NurBoleh, saya sudah letih berdiri.Sure, I am tired of standing.
- MuhammadKerusi ini masih kosong.This seat is still empty.
- NurTerima kasih, Muhammad.Thank you, Muhammad.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “sit” translations and entries duduk, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
