Ketapang Malay (Ketapang Malay: Bahase Melayu Ketapang, Jawi: بهاسي ملايو كتاڤڠ), also known as Kayong Malay, or simply Kayong or Kayung, is a Malayic language in the Malayic Dayak lects that is primarily spoken by the Malay people living in Ketapang and North Kayong Regency (which was separated from the former in 2007) as well as the surrounding regions in the southern part of West Kalimantan, Indonesia, specifically along the Pawan River. The distinctiveness of Ketapang Malay compared to other Malay varieties in West Kalimantan such as Pontianak Malay and Sambas Malay lies in its intonation, dialectal features, and certain regional vocabulary that cannot be found in other areas. This language is divided into several dialects, namely the Ketapang dialect, Teluk Melano dialect, Sukadana dialect, Sungai Laur dialect, and Kendawangan dialect, which exhibit differences in pronunciation systems, word forms, vocabulary, and linguistic nuances. However, these dialects remain mutually intelligible, allowing the Ketapang Malay community to communicate seamlessly with one another.

In Ketapang and the surrounding regency (including the now separate North Kayong regency), Ketapang Malay is primarily used for daily communication in families, communities, workplaces, and markets, whether in formal or informal settings. Indonesian is used as the language of instruction in official settings such as the government and schools, but the usage of Ketapang Malay persists during informal settings such as in recesses and in social interactions. It holds a high status as a regional identity symbol and fosters pride among its speakers, who often continue using it even when outside their region. It is not only used by the Malay community but also by other ethnic groups residing in Ketapang and the surrounding regions, such as the Chinese, Madurese, and Javanese communities as a daily communication language.

Ketapang Malay is a Malayic language. Speakers of Malayic languages are spread from Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Southern Thailand, to the southernmost part of the Philippines. Malay is a member of the Austronesian family of languages, which includes languages from Taiwan, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific Ocean, with a smaller number in continental Asia. Malagasy, a geographic outlier spoken in Madagascar in the Indian Ocean, is also a member of this language family. Although these languages are not necessarily mutually intelligible to any extent, their similarities are often quite apparent. In more conservative languages like Malay, many roots have come with relatively little change from their common ancestor, Proto-Austronesian. There are many cognates found in the languages' words for kinship, health, body parts and common animals. Numbers, especially, show remarkable similarities.

Ketapang Malay, also known as Kayong, is classified as a Malayic Dayak lect according to Glottolog.

Ketapang Malay is one of five major Malay variants spoken in West Kalimantan, the other being Pontianak Malay, Sambas Malay, Landak Malay and Kapuas Hulu Malay. There are differences between these languages. Ketapang Malay stands out from other Malay varieties in West Kalimantan, such as Pontianak Malay and Sambas Malay, due to its unique intonation patterns, distinct dialectal characteristics, and the presence of specific regional vocabulary that is absent in other regions. Ketapang Malay is also related to the Tola language, a language spoken by the Dayak tribes in Ketapang. The two languages share similarities in their lexicons but differ significantly in phonology and morphology.

Ketapang Malay is mainly spoken in Malay-dominated areas in Ketapang Regency and North Kayang Regency, typically in coastal areas. In the interior areas of Ketapang Regency, Ketapang Malay serves as a contact language and lingua franca for interethnic communication. Ketapang Malay is primarily spoken in the Matan Hilir Utara and Matan Hilir Selatan districts. In addition to Ketapang Malay, the region is also home to speakers of Dayak languages, Madurese, and other Malay varieties, such as Pontianak Malay and Sambas Malay. Dayak languages are spoken by Dayak communities whose villages border these districts, while Madurese is spoken by the Madurese population residing in the area. Other Malay varieties are used by newcomers who have recently settled in the region.

In Ketapang, Ketapang Malay is regarded as an informal language, primarily used for family communication and traditional rituals. The medium of instruction in government offices and schools in Ketapang is Indonesian, as it is across Indonesia. However, during breaks and outside school hours, Ketapang Malay remains the language of choice. Similarly, in the workplace, Ketapang Malay is still widely spoken. In the market, Ketapang Malay is undoubtedly the dominant language spoken between traders from different ethnic groups. Even speakers of other languages who have stayed in Ketapang for a long time, whether consciously or not, often adopt Ketapang Malay over time. Ketapang Malay holds significant cultural value within its community, regarded as a symbol of regional identity that fosters pride among its speakers. Even when away from their hometown, speakers of Ketapang Malay typically continue to use the dialect when meeting other speakers of the language.

Ketapang Malay plays a vital role in shaping Ketapang Malay culture, particularly in traditional ceremonies and the transmission of folklore. However, over time, the growing influence of other languages, especially Indonesian as the national language, has led to significant linguistic changes. Many lexicons in Ketapang Malay have evolved, shifted, or been gradually replaced by their Indonesian equivalents, resulting in the loss of traditional Ketapang terms and vocabulary. Currently, many speakers of Ketapang Malay, especially the younger generations, are weak in maintaining their proficiency in Ketapang Malay , whether they are monolingual or bilingual. They prefer to use Indonesian and consider traditional Ketapang Malay lexicons as archaic. In the past, Ketapang Malay served as both a trade language within Ketapang and a means of communication with outsiders. However, Indonesian has now become the dominant language in key aspects of Ketapang society.