Pagi ini, saya minum air perlahan.

This morning, I drink water slowly.

Breakdown of Pagi ini, saya minum air perlahan.

• saya: I
• air: the water
• minum: to drink
• ini: this
• pagi: the morning
• perlahan: slowly

Questions & Answers about Pagi ini, saya minum air perlahan.

Why do we say pagi ini to mean this morning instead of something else?

In Malay, pagi means morning, and ini means this. When combined as pagi ini, it works like this morning in English. If you wanted to say today, you would use hari ini, and for tonight, it would be malam ini.

Why do we use saya here? Can it be left out?

Saya means I or me. Malay often omits personal pronouns if the context is already clear, so you might hear Minum air perlahan in casual speech. However, including saya can help clarify who is doing the action, especially in more formal contexts or when the subject isn’t obvious.

What does perlahan mean, and how is it different from perlahan-lahan?

Perlahan means slowly, describing the manner in which you perform an action. Perlahan-lahan is a bit more emphatic or deliberate, translating roughly to slowly and carefully. You can often use either one, but perlahan-lahan suggests a slight emphasis on taking one’s time.

Is the word order flexible in this sentence?

Yes, Malay has some flexibility in word order, but Pagi ini, saya minum air perlahan is quite standard. You could also say Saya minum air perlahan pagi ini, but the emphasis shifts slightly to when you’re drinking slowly. The original sentence places emphasis on the time it happens (pagi ini).

How do I pronounce perlahan correctly?

Break it down into per-la-han. Make sure the r is lightly rolled, the a is pronounced like in father, and keep each syllable distinct: per-la-han.