Malay · Common Verbs
adalah
To be (is/are)
Beginnerverb
Definition
Links a subject with a noun; ialah is also used.
Example
Kuala Lumpur adalah ibu negara Malaysia.
Kuala Lumpur is the capital of Malaysia.
Etymology
'Adalah' is derived from the Arabic word 'كان' (kāna), which signifies 'to exist' or 'to be'. It serves as an equative verb in Malay.
How & Where It’s Used
'Adalah' is commonly used in both formal and informal contexts for defining or explaining situations and exists primarily in spoken discourse.