When learning a new language, getting familiar with terms related to weather and seasons is crucial since they form a significant part of our daily conversations. The Malay language (Bahasa Melayu) is no different, with a rich vocabulary to describe various aspects of the climate. This article will introduce you to key weather and seasonal terms in Malay that will help you engage in conversations about the environment around you.

Cuaca
‘Cuaca’ stands for weather. It’s a general term used to describe the atmospheric conditions at any given time.
Bagaimana cuaca hari ini? (How is the weather today?)

Panas
‘Panas’ means hot, often used to describe the temperature during the day, especially in tropical climates.
Hari ini sangat panas. (Today is very hot.)

Sejuk
Sejuk translates to cool or cold and is typically used when discussing cooler climates or when the temperature drops.
Malam ini cuacanya sejuk. (It is cool tonight.)

Hujan
‘Hujan’ refers to rain. It’s one of the most common weather conditions in Malaysia due to its tropical climate.
Nampaknya akan hujan tidak lama lagi. (It looks like it will rain soon.)

Ribut
A storm is referred to as ‘Ribut’ in Malay, often accompanied by strong winds and heavy rain.
Ribut semalam sungguh kuat. (Last night’s storm was very strong.)

Musim
The word ‘Musim’ means season. In general, Malaysia experiences a tropical climate with two main seasons: the wet and dry seasons.
Musim hujan biasanya bermula pada bulan November. (The rainy season usually starts in November.)

Musim panas
This term is used for summer, although Malaysia does not experience distinct seasons like summer.
Malaysia tidak mempunyai musim panas yang sebenar. (Malaysia does not have a real summer season.)

Musim sejuk
‘Musim sejuk’ means the winter season, another term not typically relevant in Malaysia due to its tropical weather, but useful when discussing other regions.
Saya ingin bercuti ke negara yang mempunyai musim sejuk. (I would like to vacation in a country that has a winter season.)

Musim bunga
Spring season is translated as ‘Musim bunga’. It’s often used when talking about temperate regions with distinct springtime.
Musim bunga adalah masa yang terbaik untuk melawat Jepun. (Spring is the best time to visit Japan.)

Musim luruh
The autumn or fall season is known as ‘Musim luruh’ in Malay. Much like spring and winter, it’s not something experienced in the tropics.
Daun-daun berguguran semasa musim luruh. (Leaves fall during the autumn season.)

Awan
Clouds are called ‘Awan’ in Malay. They’re an important aspect of weather discussions.
Langit hari ini penuh dengan awan putih. (The sky today is full of white clouds.)

Mendung
The word ‘Mendung’ refers to overcast or cloudy skies. It’s often indicative of impending rain.
Langit kelihatan mendung, bawa payung. (The sky looks overcast, bring an umbrella.)

Petir
‘Petir’ means lightning, a common phenomenon during the rainy season in Malaysia.
Petir menyambar ketika hujan lebat petang tadi. (Lightning struck during the heavy rain this evening.)

Guruh
Thunder is called ‘Guruh’. It is usually heard during storms alongside lightning.
Guruh tadi cukup kuat hingga saya terjaga. (The thunder earlier was so loud that I woke up.)

Arus Perdana
When discussing weather patterns, ‘Arus Perdana’ or monsoon is also an important term. This refers to the monsoonal winds that bring distinct weather changes in Asia.
Arus Perdana biasanya membawa banyak hujan. (The monsoon usually brings a lot of rain.)

Banjir
The term ‘Banjir’ means flood, an often occurrence in Malaysia following heavy rains or monsoons.
Kawasan ini selalu terkena banjir setiap musim hujan. (This area often floods every rainy season.)

Understanding these terms will not only aid in your appreciation of the beautiful diversity in weather and seasons but will also allow you to describe the environment and engage with locals in a more meaningful way. Happy learning!