The Malay language (bahasa Melayu) has a large number of local dialects such as Johor Malay, Minangkabau Malay, Jakarta Malay, Mandao Malay or Kelantan Malay. Besides these regional dialects, the Malay language also consists of two major branches, namely Indonesian-Malay known as bahasa Indonesia, and Malaysian-Malay known as bahasa Malaysia (the meaning of bahasa is ‘language’).

There are certain differences between formal bahasa Malaysia and formal bahasa Indonesia, but the language are so similar that it can take a while before one realizes whether the language is Malaysian or Indonesian when one listens to a speech delivered in formal language. In colloquial speech, the differences are naturally more pronounced, but even between different regions within Indonesia and within Malaysia there are considerable differences between, let’s say, Jakarta and Kupang Malay, or Kelantan  and  Johor Malay.

Formal Indonesian and formal Malaysian are thus very similar, and mutually intelligible. The differences are mainly idiomatic.

The language that we teach at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa is bahasa Indonesia. If you are interested in learning bahasa Malaysia instead of bahasa Indonesia, let us know. It is relatively easy for us to let you know the differences between the two languages. Also: every educated Malaysian is aware of the subtle differences between bahasa Malaysia and bahasa Indonesia, and will not have any difficulties understanding you even if you speak with a distinct Indonesian accent!