Questions & Answers about Saya melihat kuda itu.
What does saya mean, and is it formal?
Saya means I or me.
Yes, it is the most common polite/neutral way to say I in Malay. A native English speaker will often see saya in textbooks first because it is safe to use in most situations.
Other words for I exist, such as aku, but aku is more casual and is used in different social contexts.
Why is the verb melihat instead of just lihat?
Lihat is the basic root meaning see/look at.
Melihat is the verb form built from that root. The prefix meN- often appears on active verbs in Malay, especially in more standard or careful language. So:
- lihat = root
- melihat = to see / sees / saw, depending on context
In everyday speech, people may sometimes use shorter or less formal forms, but melihat is perfectly correct and natural in standard Malay.
Does melihat mean see or look at?