Malay: Basic words

[SeñorDingDong]

Hi there,

I am a frequent Malaysia Airlines traveller and on my many journeys to the orient and beyond, i have discovered several things about the awesome language of Bahasa Malay. Here are my 3 points & questions...

1)
Firstly the crew's announcements allways begin with: "pwan pwan dan pwan pwan"
I assume it means ladies & gentleman but the 2 "Pwan Pwan"'s sound identical!! Could someone spell check this for me?

2)
Also "Selamat Detang" and "Terima Kasih" are often heard. I assume these translate to Welcome and Thank You.

3)
Is "Terima Kasih" pronounced "two-ma kass-hi" or "terre-ma kasshi"?

This would help me so much when i return to the beautiful land in December​

SeñorDingDong​

 

[Isis]

Hi there,

I am a frequent malaysia airlines traveller and on my many journeys to the orient and beyond, i have discovered several things about the awesome language of bahasa malay. Here are my 3 points & questions...

1)
Firstly the crew's announcements allways begin with:

"pwan pwan dan pwan pwan"​

I assume it means ladies & gentleman but the 2 "Pwan Pwan"'s sound identical!! Could someone spell check this for me?

2)
Also "Selamat Detang" and "Terima Kasih" are often heard. I assume these translate to welcome and hello.

Selamat Datang is "welcome" and Terima Kasih is "Thank You"

3)

Is "Terima Kasih" pronounced "two-ma kass-hi" or "terre-ma kasshi"?

It is pronounced "terri-ma ka-ssi

This whould help me so much when i return to the beautifull land in December

SeñorDingDong
​

 

[redwine]

Selamat Datang is "welcome" and Terima Kasih is "Thank You"

Is SALAMAT DATANG a compound word? Could SALAMAT and DATANG stand alone seperately?

 

[Ralf]

Is SALAMAT DATANG a compound word? Could SALAMAT and DATANG stand alone seperately?

Short answer: "Selamat datang" are actually two words. Both of them can be used separately:
selamat = save; secure from danger or harm - You will find "selamat" in almost any greeting - examples:
Selamat pagi = Good morning
Selamat petang = Good evening
Selamat malam = Good night
Selamat jalan = Goodbye (interestingly "jalan" means street)

datang = (verb) to arrive, to come to, to get to
example: minggu akan datang = next week (literally: the week that will come)

... I assume it means ladies & gentleman but the 2 "Pwan Pwan"'s sound identical!! Could someone spell check this for me?

It should be "Tuan-tuan dan puan-puan", which in fact is "Ladies and gentlemen" in bahasa Melayu.

tuan = sir, master, gentleman
puan = lady

It is one oft the pecularities of Malay language to form the plural by simply repeating the word:

Orang = (one) person
Orang-orang = people

Hope I could help a bit.

Ralf

 

[SeñorDingDong]

Thank You So Much!
A Very Interesting read especially about Bahasa Melau's plural formation.
Some isolated aboriginal communities in Australia also simply repeat the word to form a plural for example communities north of Cape Tribulation in Queensland. See Wikipedia Search for Wujal_Wujal
Thank You Again
Terima Kasih