馃嚥馃嚲 Malay phrases

How to Say "I don't understand" in Malay

The SPAIKING TeamJuly 27, 2026
Saya tidak faham
"I don't understand" in Malay 路 say it like sah-yah tee-dahk fah-hahm

The most natural way to say "I don't understand" in Malay is Saya tidak faham. Tap the speaker above to hear it, then say it back out loud. That is the fastest way to make it stick.

Other ways to say it

Saya tak faham
More casual and commonly used in spoken Malay
Saya tidak mengerti
A more formal way to express the same meaning

When to use it

Use this phrase when you want to express that you do not understand something. It can be used in both formal and informal situations. It is polite to use when asking for clarification.

Say it out loud, get corrected

Reading it is not the same as saying it. Practice "I don't understand" and thousands more with an AI coach that listens.

Examples in Malay

MalayEnglish
Maaf, saya tidak faham apa yang anda katakan.Sorry, I do not understand what you are saying.
Common mistake
Learners often confuse 'faham' with 'mengerti', but both are correct in different contexts.

The fastest way to remember it

Vocabulary you only read fades fast. Vocabulary you say out loud sticks. Hear Saya tidak faham, repeat it a few times, then use it in a real sentence. SPAIKING lets you practice exactly that, speaking Malay with a coach that corrects your pronunciation in real time. You can start with two free conversations.

Frequently asked questions

How do I ask someone to explain something?

You can say 'Boleh anda terangkan?' which means 'Can you explain?'

Learn Malay by speaking it

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