Our 5 top Malay words in 2025
Let's end 2025 with what we at Omerimbun consider some of the most impactful words this year.
1️⃣ Tenggara
This word means "southeast." Just pair it with Asia, and you have Asia Tenggara, which means "Southeast Asia."
Example:
🌷Malaysia memikul tanggungjawab besar sebagai pengerusi Persatuan Negara-negara Asia Tenggara (ASEAN) pada tahun 2025.
🟰 Malaysia shoulders a big responsibility as the chairman of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in 2025.
2️⃣ Kecerdasan
This noun comes from the adjective cerdas that means "to be intelligent." Adding the affixes ke- at the beginning and -an at the end transforms it into a noun that means "intelligence."
Example:
🧠 McCarthy, Minskey, Nathaniel Rochester dan Claude E. Shannon mencipta istilah "kecerdasan buatan" dalam kertas cadangan yang ditulis mereka untuk persidangan Dartmouth yang terkenal pada musim panas tahun 1956.
🟰 McCarthy, Minsky, Nathaniel Rochester and Claude E. Shannon coined the term "artificial intelligence" in a proposal that they wrote for the famous Dartmouth conference in summer 1956. (Source)
3️⃣ Berapi
Berapi comes from putting the affix ber- together with the noun api to form a word that means "to be fiery/on fire." In the example below, it's used as part of the name for a spicy rendang product created by a successful Malaysian chef and entrepreneur:
🔥 Menurut Khairul Aming, resipi Rendang Nyet Berapi telah melalui proses penyelidikan dan pembangunan (R&D) selama berbulan lamanya.
🟰 According to Khairul Aming, the recipe for Rendang Nyet Berapi went through a several month-long process of research and development (R&D). (Source)
Cikgu Omerimbun
4️⃣ Rosot
Rosot is a verb that means "to decline" or "to worsen", often used with the affix me- to form the active form merosot. In recent years, as brain rot takes over the internet culture, we've seen rosot minda being used to refer to this phenomenon where mostly nonsensical visual and audio memes catch on among children (and adults alike) online and in real life.
Example:
📉 Bucec salah seorang daripada aliran pempengaruh Gen Z yang semakin meningkat dalam cubaan menentang "rosot minda", iaitu kemerosotan mental yang dianggap datang daripada tabiat asyik menatal telefon.
🟰 Bucec is one of a growing trend of Gen Z influencers looking to combat "brain rot"—a perceived mental deterioration that comes from constant scrolling. (Source)
5️⃣ Kasih
"Kasih" means "love" or "adoration," and as a Malay language learner, you would probably know it's part of the phrase terima kasih which means "thank you."
So many of you thanked us this year for our content by saying Terima kasih ❤️. It warms our hearts that you try your best to use Malay with this basic but important phrase. We are happy when you leave comments and help us learn what is working and what is not. Terima kasih back to you for enjoying our little website here.
