Understanding Malay Numbers (21 to 99)

Malay numbers follow a simple and logical pattern. Once you understand the names of the tens and unit digits, forming numbers from 21 to 99 becomes straightforward.

Key Pattern for Numbers 21 to 99

In Malay, numbers are constructed by combining the tens digit with the unit digit. The format is:

[Tens Digit] + [Unit Digit]

For example: 99 (Sembilan puluh sembilan) is read as "Ninety Nine."

Malay Tens (20 to 90)

In Malay, tens numbers (20, 30, 40...90) are formed by combining the unit digit with the word “puluh”, which means "tens." For example:

• 20 (Dua puluh) → "Two Tens"
• 30 (Tiga puluh) → "Three Tens"
• 40 (Empat puluh) → "Four Tens"
• 50 (Lima puluh) → "Five Tens"
• 60 (Enam puluh) → "Six Tens"
• 70 (Tujuh puluh) → "Seven Tens"
• 80 (Lapan puluh) → "Eight Tens"
• 90 (Sembilan puluh) → "Nine Tens"

Examples

Here are a few examples to demonstrate how the pattern works:

• 23 (Dua puluh tiga) → "Twenty Three"
  [Tens]: Dua puluh, [Unit]: Tiga
• 37 (Tiga puluh tujuh) → "Thirty Seven"
  [Tens]: Tiga puluh, [Unit]: Tujuh
• 45 (Empat puluh lima) → "Forty Five"
  [Tens]: Empat puluh, [Unit]: Lima
• 68 (Enam puluh lapan) → "Sixty Eight"
  [Tens]: Enam puluh, [Unit]: Lapan
• 99 (Sembilan puluh sembilan) → "Ninety Nine"
  [Tens]: Sembilan puluh, [Unit]: Sembilan

Tips to Remember

• Consistent Pattern: Always combine the tens digit with the unit digit.
• Tens First, Unit Second: In Malay, the tens are mentioned first, followed by the unit digit.
• Example for 32:
  - In English: Thirty-two.
  - In Malay: Tiga puluh dua.

Mastering the tens and units makes forming Malay numbers from 21 to 99 simple and intuitive.