Imitative reduplication is not greatly different from some types of compounding.
Imitative reduplication is not productive; new forms can not be created nor can the two parts of the word change places. The reduplication usually indicates variety or emphasizes the meaning of the first component.
| Base | Meaning | Reduplication | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| sayur | vegetable | sayur-mayur | vegetables |
| lauk | side dish | lauk-pauk | side dishes |
| ramah | friendly | ramah-tamah | hospitable & friendly |
| cerai | separated | cerai-berai | scattered, dispersed |
| kaya | rich | kaya-raya | very wealthy |
| pecah | broken | pecah-belah* | broken into pieces |