When traveling to Malaysia or dealing with Malay language speakers, you may find yourself needing to send a letter or package, or perhaps you’ll have to navigate the local post office for various mail and post services. Grasping some basic phrases in Malay will not only make your life easier but also endear you to the locals who appreciate the effort to speak their language. Below are several Malay phrases and vocabulary that can come in handy when dealing with mail and post services.

Pos
‘Pos’ refers to mail or post in Malay. It could mean the postal service itself or an item being sent through it.
Bolehkah saya poskan surat ini di sini?

Setem
A ‘setem’ is a postage stamp. This is what you’ll need to purchase if you want to send letters or postcards.
Berapa harga satu setem untuk poskad ini?

Pejabat Pos
This means post office, the place where you would go for all your postal needs.
Di mana saya boleh mencari pejabat pos yang terdekat?

Menghantar
It means to send something. In the context of mail, it refers to the act of sending a letter or package.
Saya perlu menghantar bungkusan ke Amerika.

Surat
This is the word for a letter or any type of correspondence sent through the post.
Saya mendapat surat dari ibu saya hari ini.

Parcel or Bungkusan
‘Parcel’ in English is often understood in Malaysia, but ‘bungkusan’ is the Malay word for a package or parcel.
Bungkusan yang anda cari sedang dalam proses penghantaran.

Kotak Pos
A ‘kotak pos’ is a mailbox or postbox where you drop off your mail to be collected.
Saya perlu mencari kotak pos untuk mengirimkan kad ucapan ini.

Pengesahan Penerimaan
This is known as delivery confirmation. It’s evidence that the recipient has received the parcel or letter.
Adakah anda memerlukan pengesahan penerimaan untuk bungkusan ini?

Nombor Penjejakan
This is the tracking number, which allows you to track the whereabouts of your mail or parcel.
Sila berikan saya nombor penjejakan supaya saya boleh semak status penghantaran saya.

Pos Laju
Meaning ‘express post’, this service is used for sending something urgently.
Saya perlu menggunakan pos laju untuk dokumen ini kerana ia mendesak.

Pos Berdaftar
This term refers to registered mail, a service that provides the sender with a receipt and requires a signature upon delivery.
Poskan surat ini dengan pos berdaftar, tolong.

Kad Pos
A ‘kad pos’ is a postcard. Often sent as a keepsake from travels to share sights and experiences.
Saya akan menghantar beberapa kad pos dari Kuala Lumpur kepada kawan-kawan saya.

Learning to navigate the postal system in a foreign country can be a daunting task. Knowing these key Malay phrases can be your lifeline in ensuring your mail reaches its destination or understanding what’s required of you when you’re at the post office. So before you head out to send off that postcard or parcel, take a moment to familiarize yourself with these terms and phrases to make your experience smooth and free of any communication barriers!