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Glite Dictionary
Bahasa Kebangsaan

Bahasa Kebangsaan

9.5
The Malay language used as the national language of Malaysia and nearby countries
  • noun
translation icon : bahasa kebangsaan
  • In Malaysia, Bahasa Kebangsaan is used in all official documents.

Examples

  • The government encourages citizens to use Bahasa Kebangsaan in all official communications.

  • Many schools in Malaysia teach in Bahasa Kebangsaan as part of their curriculum.

  • He is fluent in both English and Bahasa Kebangsaan.

  • Many schools teach Bahasa Kebangsaan as a second language.

  • He is fluent in both English and Bahasa Kebangsaan.

  • Many schools in Malaysia teach in Bahasa Kebangsaan as part of their curriculum.

  • The government encourages citizens to use Bahasa Kebangsaan in all official communications.

Synonyms

Malaysian
vsBahasa Kebangsaan
1 3.2

The standard Malay language used in Malaysia

is the national official form emphasizing status across neighboring areas
Malay
vsBahasa Kebangsaan
1 6.0

A language spoken in Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei, and Singapore

is the specific national official form limited to one country's use
Bahasa Malaysia
vsBahasa Kebangsaan
6.7

The standard Malay language used as the official language of Malaysia

is the national form defined by its role as a symbol and official medium
Bahasa Melayu
vsBahasa Kebangsaan
5.8

The Malay language spoken in Malaysia and nearby countries

is the official national form that highlights government standardization
Malaysian language
vsBahasa Kebangsaan
6.2

The Malay language people speak in Malaysia and nearby countries

is the designated national standard used for official purposes

Surface Forms

Bahasa Kebangsaan singular
Bahasa Kebangsaanen singular

Morphology

Bahasa + Kebangsaan

The phrase combines 'bahasa' (language) with 'kebangsaan' (relating to the nation), so the overall meaning 'national language' is directly derivable from the constituents. Even though 'kebangsaan' was not given a dictionary gloss here, its formation from bangsa ('nation') plus affixes is transparently 'national/pertaining to the nation'. This compositional pattern (language + national) exists across many languages, so a B1 learner who knows both parts would readily infer the meaning.

Etymology

Bahasa Kebangsaan puts together Bahasa ('language') and Kebangsaan ('nation'). When a country picks one language to be its common voice for government and schools, that chosen tongue becomes the Bahasa Kebangsaan, so the phrase means 'the national or official language'.