Learn Hardcore Malay: Semua orang suka coklat kecuali abang saya. - Everyone likes chocolate except my older brother.

This sentence follows the standard Malay SVO pattern (Subject-Verb-Object). Semua orang (subject) comes first, then suka (verb), then coklat (object). The clause kecuali abang saya functions as an adverbial exception at the end.

What is the function of kecuali in this sentence?

kecuali means “except.” It’s a preposition used to introduce the excluded element, marking abang saya as the only person not included in the general liking.

Can I use other words instead of kecuali to express “except”? How do they differ?

You can also use selain (often with daripada), e.g.:
• Semua orang selain abang saya suka coklat.
However, selain can mean both “in addition to” and “apart from,” so it’s slightly less precise than kecuali for clear exclusion.

Can the exception phrase be placed elsewhere in the sentence?

Yes. You can insert it mid-sentence with commas:
• Semua orang, kecuali abang saya, suka coklat.
Or front it for emphasis (more formal or literary):
• Kecuali abang saya, semua orang suka coklat.
The meaning stays the same, though the rhythm and style shift.

Why is it abang saya and not saya abang?

Malay marks possession by putting the head noun first, followed by the possessor. So abang (older brother) comes before saya (my). Reversing them would break the normal possessor-construction order.

In suka coklat, why is there no article before coklat, and how do you indicate plural?

Malay does not use definite or indefinite articles. Nouns are unmarked for plural by default. To specify quantity, use a classifier—e.g., sebiji coklat (one piece of chocolate)—or reduplicate: coklat-coklat for a general plural sense.

What’s the difference between suka and menyukai?

suka is the everyday verb “to like.” menyukai is a formal variant formed with the me- prefix and appears more often in written or formal contexts; in speech you’ll usually hear suka.

How do you pronounce kecuali and coklat?

kecuali sounds like "keh-CHAH-lee," with stress on the second syllable.
coklat is "CHOHK-laht," stress on the second part and the o pronounced like the "aw" in "awe."