This glossary explains Sejarah terms and command words in plain English, with Bahasa Melayu equivalents. Each entry has a short example and a term it is confused with.
The terms belong to SPM Sejarah. For a bridge tool with Chinese explanations, use the terminology bridge. The command words are explained further in decoding state, explain, compare and evaluate commands.
Evidence and reasoning terms
| English | Bahasa Melayu | Meaning and example | Confused with |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary source | Sumber primer | Made at the time, such as a 1957 document from the independence period | Secondary source |
| Secondary source | Sumber sekunder | Written later about the past, such as a textbook | Primary source |
| Fact | Fakta | Can be checked: “the Federation of Malaya began on 1 February 1948” | Opinion |
| Opinion | Pendapat | A judgement: “the Malayan Union was unwise” | Fact |
| Cause | Sebab | Why it happened: “Malay opposition to the Malayan Union” | Effect |
| Effect | Kesan | What followed: “the Malayan Union was replaced in 1948” | Cause |
| Evidence | Bukti | A fact that supports a claim | Example |
| Chronology | Kronologi | The order of events in time | Date |
| Continuity | Kesinambungan | Something that stayed the same | Change |
| Change | Perubahan | Something that became different | Continuity |
Chapter terms
| English | Bahasa Melayu | Meaning and example | Confused with |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sovereignty | Kedaulatan | Supreme authority over a territory | Independence |
| Independence | Kemerdekaan | Freedom from another country’s rule | Sovereignty |
| Federation | Persekutuan | States joined under a central government | Union |
| Constitution | Perlembagaan | The basic law that sets out how government works | Law |
| Representation | Perwakilan | Who speaks for which group in government | Election |
| Election | Pilihan raya | The event where voters choose | Representation |
| Nationalism | Nasionalisme | Loyalty to a nation and its aims | Patriotism |
| Safeguard | Jaminan perlindungan | An arrangement that protects an interest | Concern |
Command words
| English | Bahasa Melayu | What it asks for | Confused with |
|---|---|---|---|
| State | Nyatakan | Give the answer briefly | Explain |
| Explain | Terangkan | Give the reason and the result | Describe |
| Describe | Huraikan | Say what happened in order | Explain |
| Compare | Bandingkan | Show similarities and differences | Contrast |
How should you use this page?
Pick the term from your latest feedback, read the entry and use it in one sentence about a chapter you know. Then look for the term in your next practice question.
For the chapters themselves, see formation of Malaysia and foreign relations. For a teacher to explain a term on your answer, see online one-to-one Sejarah tuition.