Pelbagai

Pelbagai is a Malay adjective meaning varied, diverse, or of many kinds. It is widely used in Malaysia, Brunei, and other Malay-speaking communities to describe a wide range of items, ideas, or groups. The term functions as a modifier before a noun or as a predicative description, and appears in both formal and everyday language.

Common collocations include pelbagai jenis (various kinds), pelbagai pendapat (diverse opinions), pelbagai budaya (various cultures), and pelbagai kaum (diverse ethnic groups). It is often used to emphasize breadth and inclusivity, for example: Kandungan buku itu pelbagai topik, or Masyarakat pelbagai budaya memainkan peranan penting dalam negara itu. The word can also appear in phrases that stress multiplicity, such as pelbagai lapisan masyarakat (various strata of society).

Pelbagai is part of a family of Malay terms that convey variety, alongside bermacam-macam and beraneka. In Indonesian, the closest equivalents are beraneka or beragam, which are more commonly used; pelbagai is typically found in formal Malay usage and is widely understood in contexts discussing diversity and inclusion. The word has cultural and social resonance in discussions of multiculturalism, national unity, and audience or market diversity.

In summary, pelbagai denotes breadth and multiplicity in Malay, functioning as a versatile descriptor across topics from objects to ideas and social groups. Its neutral tone makes it suitable for education, media, and public discourse.