If you’re planning to visit Malaysia or just interested in expanding your vocabulary in Malay, knowing how to order a drink or talk about beverages can be very helpful. Whether you’re in a restaurant, with friends, or trying to purchase a drink at the store, these terms are essentials for smooth communication. Here’s a list of commonly used drinks and beverage-related terms in Malay, with their definitions and examples on how to use them in a sentence.

Minuman
Definition: Beverage or drink in general. It is a generic term used for any liquid that is meant for drinking.
Bolehkah anda mencadangkan minuman yang segar?

Air
Definition: Water. It’s important to specify if you want bottled water (air botol) or tap water (air paip).
Saya mahu sebotol air mineral, sila.

Teh
Definition: Tea. You can specify the type by saying teh hijau for green tea or teh tarik, which is a popular Malaysian pulled tea with milk.
Saya pesan satu teh tarik tanpa gula.

Kopi
Definition: Coffee. Similar to tea, you can specify how you like your coffee; kopi o is black coffee while kopi susu is coffee with milk.
Beri saya sebulan kopi panas dengan sedikit susu.

Jus
Definition: Juice. Often followed by the name of the fruit, like jus oren for orange juice or jus epal for apple juice.
Saya ingin jus mangga segar, terima kasih.

Ais
Definition: Ice. You may need to specify if you want your drink with ice (dengan ais) or without ice (tanpa ais).
Satu limau ais, tapi kurang manis, sila.

Susu
Definition: Milk. It can refer to regular cow’s milk or other varieties like plant-based milks.
Adakah anda mempunyai susu kedelai atau susu almond?

Arak
Definition: Alcohol. Typically used to refer to alcoholic beverages in general. Be sensitive to the context, as not all places in Malaysia serve alcohol due to religious reasons.
Saya tidak minum arak, adakah anda mempunyai alternatif lain?

Sirap
Definition: Syrup, often referring to a sweet rose syrup used in drinks. Sirap bandung is a popular drink made with milk and rose syrup.
Bagi saya sirap bandung sebagai pencuci mulut.

Remember, when learning a new language, practice is key. Try using these terms next time you’re ordering a drink in Malay or practicing with a language partner. Not only will it help you to remember these words, but it can also provide you with a deeper insight into the rich culture and customs of Malaysia. Selamat minum! (Enjoy your drink!)