Malay words are read in syllables (suku kata). Most syllables are a consonant followed by a vowel — bu, ku, ma, ta — and joining them makes words: bu + ku is buku. Reading by syllables is how Malaysian children first learn to read.
What your child will learn
- Join two or three syllables into a word
- Split a word into its syllables
- Count the syllables in a word
- Recognise closed syllables such as pin and tu in pintu
Open and closed syllables
An open syllable ends in a vowel: ba, ju, na, si. A closed syllable ends in a consonant: pin, sam, rung. “Pintu” (door) is pin + tu; “burung” (bird) is bu + rung.
Each syllable has exactly one vowel sound, so counting the claps as you say a word tells you how many syllables it has: ke-re-ta has three.
Example questions
Here are a few questions like the ones in the first quest. Can you solve them?
1. Betul atau salah? Perkataan “susu” mempunyai dua suku kata.
🥛- Betul
- Salah
Show answer
Answer: Betul. su-su: dua suku kata.
2. Apakah suku kata akhir perkataan “meja”?
- ej
- ja
- a
- me
Show answer
Answer: ja. “Meja” ialah me + ja.
3. Apakah suku kata pertama perkataan “roti”?
🍞- r
- ro
- rot
- ti
Show answer
Answer: ro. “Roti” ialah ro + ti.
Tips for grown-ups
- Clap or tap each syllable of family names and foods.
- Write syllables on cards and let your child join them into real and silly words.