Melayu

Melayu is an ethnolinguistic group native to the Malay Peninsula and parts of the wider Malay Archipelago. Members identify through common linguistic and cultural traits and typically speak a Malay language as their mother tongue. The term also denotes Malay identity in relation to language, culture, and heritage.

Bahasa Melayu refers to the Malay language, part of the Austronesian language family. Standardized forms include Bahasa Malaysia (Malaysia) and Bahasa Indonesia (Indonesia), as well as other Malay varieties. The language functions as a lingua franca across parts of Southeast Asia and is the official language in Malaysia, Brunei, and Singapore, with Indonesian serving as the national standard in Indonesia.

Geographically, Melayu populations are concentrated in Peninsular Malaysia, southern Thailand, coastal Sumatra (especially Riau and Jambi), coastal Borneo (Sarawak, Sabah, and Brunei) and parts of the Malay-speaking world. The term also encompasses communities connected to Malay cultural traditions in these regions.

Historically, Malay polities such as the Malacca Sultanate and various Malay sultanates in the Malay Peninsula and Sumatra were central to maritime trade in the region. The spread of Islam and later European colonialism shaped the region's cultures and languages, contributing to the modern diversity of Malay identities.

Contemporary national contexts vary: in Malaysia, Malay identity is a key component of the national concept of bumiputera; in Brunei, Malays constitute the majority and form the core of national identity; in Singapore, Malays are a recognized ethnic minority. In Indonesia, Malay-speaking groups are linked to regional cultural and linguistic traditions across Sumatra and Kalimantan.