Learn Hardcore Malay: Saya suka suara kakak saya ketika dia menyanyi perlahan. - I like my older sister’s voice when she sings softly.

In Malaysian Malay, kakak means your older sister (female). It’s also a respectful way to address an older woman. For an older brother, you’d use abang. Note: in Indonesian, kakak can mean “older sibling” (gender-neutral), but in Malaysia it’s understood as female unless context says otherwise.

Why is saya used twice (as subject and again in kakak saya)? Isn’t that repetitive?

It’s normal. Saya is the subject (“I”), and kakak saya means “my sister.” Malay typically marks possession by placing the possessor after the noun: suara kakak saya = “my sister’s voice.” Keep pronouns consistent: if you use aku (informal “I”), then say kakak aku, not mixed forms.

Can I drop dia after ketika?

Yes, if the subject is clear, you can omit it: Saya suka suara kakak saya ketika menyanyi perlahan. The meaning remains “when she sings softly.” Keeping dia is also fine and a bit clearer.

Can I use apabila, bila, semasa, or waktu instead of ketika? Any nuance?

All work, with slight differences:

ketika: “when/at the time,” slightly literary/formal.
apabila: “when/whenever,” formal/neutral.
bila: common conversational “when.”
semasa: “during/while,” for overlapping actions.
waktu/masa: “at the time/when,” neutral. Examples: … apabila dia menyanyi perlahan, … bila dia menyanyi perlahan, … semasa dia menyanyi perlahan.

Why menyanyi and not nyanyi or bernyanyi?

nyanyi is the root; in careful/standard Malay you use the meN- form: menyanyi.
bernyanyi also exists and is correct, but is less common in Malaysia (more common in Indonesian). In everyday speech you may hear dia nyanyi, but dia menyanyi is standard.

Where should perlahan go? Do I need dengan or secara?

Manner adverbs normally follow the verb: menyanyi perlahan. You can also say menyanyi dengan perlahan or menyanyi secara perlahan; these sound a bit more formal. Avoid placing it before the verb: “perlahan menyanyi” is unnatural.

Does perlahan mean softly (volume) or slowly (speed)? What about lambat, lembut, and perlahan-lahan?

perlahan: “slow(ly)” and by extension “soft(ly)” in volume; menyanyi perlahan = sing softly/quietly.
lambat: slow/late in timing (not for volume).
lembut: gentle/soft to the touch or tone; suara lembut = gentle voice.
perlahan-lahan: very slowly/gently, with emphasis. In Malaysian Malay, don’t use pelan for “slow”; pelan means “plan.”

Do I need akan after suka (suka akan)?

No. Modern Malay commonly uses suka + noun: Saya suka suara… is natural. suka akan is formal/literary. For stronger liking, use sangat suka or gemar. Use cinta/sayang for people/affection, not for “voice.”

How do I show the past (I liked) since Malay has no tense?

Add a time word:

Saya suka suara kakak saya semalam ketika dia menyanyi perlahan.
Dulu saya suka…
Saya pernah suka… (I once/at some time liked…) Colloquial: Saya dah suka…, but with stative verbs like suka, time adverbs are the clearest.

Is suara dari kakak saya okay for “my sister’s voice”?

Use possession, not dari (“from”), so say suara kakak saya. dari indicates origin/source, not possession, and sounds odd here.

Can I use beliau instead of dia?

beliau is an honorific “he/she” for respected figures (teachers, leaders, elders in formal contexts). Using it for your own sister is usually too formal. For neutral reference, stick with dia.

Can I say suaranya instead of suara kakak saya?

Yes, if the referent is already clear: Saya suka suaranya ketika dia menyanyi perlahan. Here -nya = “his/her.” On its own, suaranya is ambiguous; suara kakak saya explicitly says “my sister’s voice.”

Can I front the time clause?

Yes: Ketika dia menyanyi perlahan, saya suka suara kakak saya. Grammatically fine. In practice, your original order is a bit more natural because the focus is on “voice.”

Could I use yang to say “a soft voice”?

Yes, to make “voice” the thing described: Saya suka suara kakak saya yang perlahan. That means “I like my sister’s voice that is soft,” without explicitly mentioning singing (you can add it: … yang perlahan ketika dia menyanyi).

What if my older sibling is male?

Use abang: Saya suka suara abang saya ketika dia menyanyi perlahan.

When would I use menyanyikan?

Use menyanyikan when there’s a direct object (the thing sung): Dia menyanyikan lagu itu perlahan. With no object, use menyanyi: Dia menyanyi perlahan. In casual speech you may hear menyanyi lagu itu, but menyanyikan lagu itu is more formally correct.

Any pronunciation tips for kakak?

In Malaysian Malay, final -k is often a glottal stop. kakak is typically pronounced like “kaʔak” (both k’s as a glottal stop), not with a fully released “k.”