Learn Malay words for Yes and no

Problem
How do you say yes and no in the Malay language?

No
The word no is tidak. You will often see tidak at the start of signs telling you not to do this or that. No, as in No Smoking.

When reading the word in Malay, you can remember the D in the middle of the word means Don't!

But how will I reach the word tidak from English.

I remember, t(o)da(y), d(on't) (but come b)ack. Ti- d-ak.

Say it three times.

Tidak, tidak, tidak.

Can't I take your phone?

TIDAK! TIDAK! TIDAK!

Can I take a photo of you?

YA! YA! YA!

Yes! Ya
Is it easy to learn the word for yes? Yes. Even easier. Ya. Like the German, or slang English. Like an abbreviation for yeah. Think of yeah further abbreviated. But the pronunciation is more like German.

Author
Angela Lansbury, travel writer and phtographer, author and speaker, learner and teacher of languages.

Learning Languages; Russian, English and German. Nyet and not. Yes and Ja.

I always remember 'n y e t' is Russian for no from the song, n y e t, n y e t, n y e t, not any more. But when you look at the word it's way to see that the consonants are the same.

In English and German for yes are similar. English yes and German pronounced ya, yes and ya, although the German is written Ja. I imagine most people would immediately see that. If you need another memory aid, try, Yes, I'm all right Jack. yes-ja.

The Russian for yes is da. It rhymes with the German for yes, Ja (pronounced ya).

Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, language teacher and tutor.