masa
/masa/
masa is the Malay word for time.
masa is used to describe the abstract concept of time, such as when saying time passes or when one is wasting time. It is also used in common idiomatic phrases like masa depan for the future and masa lalu for the past.
Meaning: measurement of a quantity of time (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
In the idiomatic phrase masa depan (the future), the components literally mean 'front time'. In the phrase masa lalu (the past), the components literally mean 'past time'.
Which one should you use?
While masa refers to the general and abstract concept of time, waktu is used to refer to a specific moment, a particular period or a specific time.
How do you pronounce it?
/masa/
Did you know?
- The word masa was originally borrowed from the Sanskrit word for 'month'. Over time its meaning expanded from a specific lunar cycle to the general concept of time.
- The concept of 'spare time' is often expressed as masa lapang, which literally translates to 'empty time'.
- When discussing a 'once upon a time' style of storytelling, Malay uses the phrase pada zaman dahulu, using the word zaman which refers to a long historical era or epoch.
Examples in context
- Sungguh lambat masa berlalu.Time passes by so slowly.This sentence shows how to describe the passage of time using masa.Tatoeba #5200290 by Adou_Fr, translation #7593070 by feudalism
- Kita ini cuma membuang masa.We're just wasting time.This sentence demonstrates the expression for wasting time using masa.Tatoeba #9700488 by imperiex, translation #3281657 by CK
- Sudah tiba masanya untuk pulang.It's time to go out.This sentence shows how to indicate a specific time or moment using masa.Tatoeba #10674918 by imperiex, translation #8844961 by shekitten
- Pukul 3 petang3 o'clock in the afternoon
- Jam 197 pm
- Dua pagiTwo in the morning
- Jam tigaThree o'clock
- 43 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Ahmad and Aishah are discussing their schedule at a cafe.
- AishahAhmad, adakah awak ada masa sekarang?Ahmad, do you have time right now?
- AhmadSaya tidak ada masa yang banyak.I do not have much time.
- AishahBaiklah, saya cuma nak tanya sesuatu.Alright, I just want to ask something.
- AhmadSilakan, saya akan cuba menjawabnya.Go ahead, I will try to answer it.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry masa, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries masa, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
