Standard Indonesian
The national lingua franca and official language of Indonesia, derived from Malay and shaped by extensive contact with Javanese, Sundanese, Dutch, and English.
Bahasa Malaysia
Also known as: Malaysian Malay, Bahasa Melayu
The Malay standard of Malaysia. Shares core grammar with Indonesian but differs in vocabulary, with stronger English borrowings and distinct spelling conventions.
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Frequently asked questions
What language is Bahasa Malaysia?
Bahasa Malaysia is a dialect of Indonesian.
Which region is Bahasa Malaysia associated with?
Bahasa Malaysia is part of the Southeast Asia region on DialectAtlas.
Is Bahasa Malaysia known by other names?
Yes — Bahasa Malaysia is also referred to as Malaysian Malay, Bahasa Melayu.
What are the other dialects of Indonesian?
Indonesian also includes Bahasa Indonesia, Brunei Malay. Each variety has its own vocabulary, pronunciation, and cultural context.
Other Indonesian dialects
See on the atlas →Bahasa Melayu Brunei
The Malay variety of Brunei. A vernacular distinct from both Bahasa Malaysia and Indonesian, used as the everyday spoken standard alongside formal Bahasa Melayu.