List of loanwords in Malay
The Malay language has many loanwords from Sanskrit, Persian, Tamil, Greek, Latin, Portuguese, Dutch, certain Chinese dialects and more recently, Arabic (in particular many religious terms) and English (in particular many scientific and technological terms). Modern Malay loanwords are now primarily from English, Arabic and Javanese. English is the language of trade and Arabic is the language of religion (Islam), although key words such as surga/ syurga (heaven) and the word "religion" itself (agama) reflect their Sanskrit-Hindu origins. Many Javanese words, including those of Sanskrit origin, are being assimilated into Malay because of the influence of Indonesian.
While based on Malay itself, Indonesian is traditionally more influenced by Javanese and Sundanese, as the Javanese are the largest ethnic group in Indonesia, with Javanese having the largest number of native speakers. Dutch influence over Indonesian vocabulary also is significant, as the Malay language itself was favored and adopted due to its trading benefit during VOC era over the archipelago, leading to mass loanword and influence over the modern Indonesian language. It is known that at least one third of the Indonesian vocabulary grew under Dutch influence.
There are some words in Malay which are spelled exactly the same as in its other language counterparts, e.g. in English – museum (Indonesian), hospital (Malaysian), format, lesbian, transit etc. In contrast, some Malay words have been loaned into other languages, e.g. in English – rice paddy ("Padi"), Orangutan, rattan, babirusa,[1] cockatoo,[2] compound,[3] gong, tuak, sago,[4][5] cootie,[6] amok, durian, agar, rambutan, keris, Pantoum/pantun,[7] "so long",[8] angrecum (anggrek/ anggrik), cassowary,[9] gingham, caddy, camphor (kapur), Gutta-percha (getah perca), launch, parang, sarong, dammar, gambir.
The Malay language has also heavily influenced the forms of colloquial English spoken in Malaysia, also known as Manglish.
Some examples as follows:
- This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by expanding it with reliably sourced entries.
Word | English translation | From language | Word |
---|---|---|---|
abjad | alphabet/alefbet | Arabic | أبجد / ʾabjad |
abolisi | abolition | Latin | abolitia |
akta | act (law) | Latin | actus |
aktivitas | aktiviti | activity | English | activity |
ad interim | temporarily | Latin | ad interim |
Ahad | Sunday | Arabic | الأØد / al-ʾaḥad |
ahli | community, expert | Arabic | ahlil |
agama | religion | Sanskrit | agama/dharma |
aksara | alphabetic letter, key | Sanskrit | अकà¥à¤·à¤° / aká¹£ara |
almari (Indonesian: "lemari") | cupboard | Portuguese | armário |
almamater | revered name for one's university | Latin | alma mater: wise and nurturing mother |
amnesti | amnesty, state-granted pardon | Latin | amnestia |
anggur | grape | Persian | انگور / angūr |
angkasa | outer space, sky (literary) | Sanskrit | ÄkÄÅ›a "sky" |
anugerah | award, blessing | Sanskrit | anugraha अनà¥à¤—à¥à¤°à¤¹ "favour" |
apam | kind of cake or Hoppers | Tamil | apam அபà¯à®ªà®®à¯ |
askar | soldier | Arabic | عسكري / ʿaskarī |
asmara | love, passion | Sanskrit | smara |
badam | almond | Persian | بادام / bÄdÄm |
bahasa | language | Sanskrit | bhÄá¹£Ä, Tami lபாஷை / pAsai |
bahaya | danger | Sanskrit | bhaya à¤à¤¯ "risk, peril" |
baki | remainder, leftover | Arabic | بقية / baqiyaẗ |
bakti | homage, devotion, service etc. | Sanskrit | bhakti |
baldi (not used in Indonesian) | bucket | Portuguese | balde |
bandar | port/town | Persian | بندر / bandr |
bangku | stool/chairs | Portuguese | banco |
bangsa | nation, race | Sanskrit वंश | vaṃśa "lineage, race" - cf. "wangsa" |
bus | bas | bus | English | bus, from Latin "omnibus" |
barat | west | Sanskrit/Hindi | à¤à¤¾à¤°à¤¤ bhÄrat, the Hindi name for India, which lies west of the Malay archipelago |
bayu (lit.) | wind | Sanskrit | वायॠ/ và yu |
bendera | flag | Portuguese | bandeira |
bendi (in Indonesian, it means "gig", different with "bhendi" in Hindi) | okra/lady's finger | Hindi | à¤à¥‡à¤‚डी bhēṇá¸Ä«, Tamil vendi / வெணà¯à®Ÿà®¿ |
beta | I (as used by royalty) | the Moluccan dialect | |
becak | beca | Trishaw | Hokkien | 馬車,马车 / bé-tshia "horse-cart" |
beda | beza | difference | Sanskrit | bheda |
biara | monastery | Sanskrit | bihara |
bidadari | fairy, angel | Sanskrit | विदà¥à¤¯à¤¾à¤§à¤°à¥€ / vidyà dharÄ« "fay, sprite" |
bina | to build | Sanskrit | bhinna different, fresh, new |
bihun | rice vermicelli | Hokkien | 米粉 / bÃ-hún |
biola | violin | Portuguese | viola |
biskuit | biskut | biscuit | English | biscuit |
bohsia | sexually active girl | Hokkien | ç„¡è² bô siaâ¿ 'without voice' |
bomba (not used in Indonesian) | fire brigade | Portuguese | bomba, "pump", or bombeiro, "fireman", lit. "pumper" |
boneka | doll | Portuguese | boneca |
bola | ball | Portuguese | bola |
buat | do | Sanskrit | wuat |
budi | reason, virtue | Sanskrit | boddhi, related to buddhism |
buku | book | Dutch | boek |
bumi | earth | Sanskrit | bhūmi "land" |
cadar | bed linen | Persian | چادر / chÄdar "cloak" |
cawan | cup | Mandarin | 茶碗,茶碗 / cháwǎn '“tea bowl†|
cendana | sandalwood | Sanskrit | चनà¥à¤¦à¤¨ / candana |
cukup | enough | Mandarin | 足够 / zúgòu |
dacin | dacing | scales | Mandarin | å°ç§¤ / táichèng |
dakwah | sermon | Arabic | دعوه / daʿwah |
delima | pomegranate, ruby | Sanskrit | dálima / दाडिम "pomegranate" |
demokrasi | democracy | Greek | δημοκÏατία / dÄ“mokratÃa |
dekan | dean | Portuguese | decano |
denda | fine, punishment | Sanskrit | danda दणà¥à¤¡ |
desa | countryside | Sanskrit | deśa देश "country" |
dewan | hall | Persian | دیوان / dÄ«vÄn "administration" |
dewi | Goddess | Sanskrit | devi |
diam | Shut Up | Hokkien (MinNan) | æ¬åŽ» / tiÄm--khì |
dirgahayu | "long live" (Dirgahayu Tuanku! - Long live the King!) | Sanskrit | dirghayu |
deskriptif | descriptive | English | descriptive |
dobi | laundry | Hindi | धोबी / dhobī "caste of laundrymen who used to wash people's clothes in bygone days" |
duka | sadness | Sanskrit | duhkha |
dunia | world | Arabic | دنيا / dunyÄ |
durjana | evil, wicked, malicious | Sanskrit | durjana |
email | emel | English | ||
erti (Indonesian variant "arti") | meaning | Sanskrit | arta |
falsafah | philosophy | Arabic | Arabic ÙلسÙÙ‡ / falsafah, from Ancient Greek φιλοσοφία / philosophÃa |
fitnah | slander | Arabic | Ùتنة / fitnaẗ "upheaval, scandal" |
forum | forum | Latin | forum |
gajah | elephant | Sanskrit | gaja गज |
gandum | wheat | Persian | گندم / gandm |
garasi | garaj | garage | English | garage |
garpu | fork | Portuguese | garfo |
gereja | church | Portuguese | igreja |
grafik | graphic | English | graphic |
gratis (mainly in Indonesian usage) | for free | Dutch | gratis |
guru | teacher | Sanskrit | guru |
had | limit | Arabic | Øد / ḥadd |
halal | permitted | Arabic | Øلال / ḥalÄl |
haram | forbidden | Arabic | Øرام / ḥarÄm |
harta | asset | Sanskrit/Tamil | artta/à®…à®°à¯à®¤à¯à®¤à®®à¯ |
hartal | strike/civil disobedience | Gujarati | હડતાળ / haá¸tÄḷ, હડતાલ / haá¸tÄl |
hasta | hasta (unit) | Sanskrit | hásta हसà¥à¤¤ |
hina | lowly, inferior | Sanskrit | hīnna |
hisab | counting/arithmetic | Arabic | Øساب / ḥisÄb |
humaniora | humanities | Latin | humaniora |
huruf | word character/letter | Arabic | Øر٠/ ḥurf |
ilmu | knowledge/science | Arabic | علم / ʿilm |
Isnin (Indonesian: "Senin") | Monday | Arabic | الإثنين / al-ʾiṯnayn |
istana | palace | Sanskrit | ásthána आसà¥à¤¥à¤¾à¤¨ assembly/audience hall |
jawab | to answer | Arabic | جواب / jawÄb |
jelata | the masses | Sanskrit | janatá जनता "community" |
jendela (mainly in Indonesian usage) | window | Portuguese | janela |
Jumat | Jumaat | Friday | Arabic | الجمعة / al-jumʿaẗ |
Kamis | Khamis | Thursday | Arabic | الخميس / al-ḫamīs |
kaca | glass (material) | Sanskrit | kÄca काच "glass, lens" |
kamus | dictionary | Arabic | قاموس / qÄmÅ«s |
kantata | song | Latin | cantata |
kapal | boat | Tamil | kappal கபà¯à®ªà®²à¯ |
kaunter (not used in Indonesian) | counter, desk | English | counter |
kedai | foodstall | Tamil | kadai கடை |
keju | cheese | Portuguese | queijo |
kelas | class | English | class |
kemeja | shirt | Portuguese | camisa |
kepala | head | Sanskrit | kapÄla कपाल "skull" |
karena | kerana | because | Sanskrit | karaṇena करणेन |
kasihan | pity | Mandarin | å¯æƒœ / kéxÄ« + é—憾,éºæ†¾ yÃhà n |
kuli | coolies/ port workers | English | coolie (itself derived from an Indic language) |
karton | carton (classifier for packaging) | English | carton |
kartun | cartoon (animated movie) | English | cartoon |
kereta | carriage, car | Portuguese | carreta |
kemah | khemah | tent | Persian/Urdu | خیمه / ḫeymah |
kuil | temple/shrine | Tamil | koyil கோயில௠|
kismis | raisin | Persian | کشمش / kishmish |
kolam | Pool of water | Tamil | kulam கà¯à®³à®®à¯ |
kompromi | Compromise | The pronunciation (lack of the "s" phoneme) suggests that this was borrowed from French (perhaps via Dutch) | compromis |
komputer | computer | English | computer |
kurkuma (Malaysian: koma-koma) | saffron | Sanskrit | kuá¹…kuma कà¥à¤™à¥à¤•à¥à¤® |
kongsi | share | Hokkien | kong-si å…¬å¸ |
korban | sacrifice | Arabic | قربان / qurbÄn |
kota | fort | Tamil | கோடà¯à®Ÿà¯ˆ / Kottai |
kredo | creed | Latin | credo |
kucai | chives | Hokkien | éŸèœ,éŸèœ / kú-tshà i |
kuda | horse | Sanskrit | kudda |
kue | kuih | cake | Hokkien | kué 粿 |
kualitas | kualiti | quality | Latin | kualitas, through Dutch: kualiteit |
kurma | date | Persian | خرما / ḫurma |
lancia | lanca | rickshaw | Hokkien | 人車,人车 / lâng-tshia "human drag cart" |
lancar | launch | Portuguese | lançar |
lemari (Malaysian: "almari") | cupboard | Portuguese | armário |
lirik | lyrics | English | lyrics |
limau | lemon/orange | Portuguese | limão |
lobak | carrot | Cantonese | èåœ,蘿蔔 / lo4 baak6 |
lungkang | longkang | drain | Hokkien | é¾æ±Ÿ,龙江 / liông-kang |
maaf | sorry | Arabic | معا٠/ maʿaf |
maha | great | Sanskrit | maha |
makmal | laboratory | Arabic | معمل / maʿmal |
mangga | mango | Tamil | mangkai மாஙà¯à®•à®¾à®¯à¯ |
mani | Sperm, semen | Sanskrit | maṇi मणि "bead, jewel, gem" |
manusia | human being | Sanskrit | manuá¹£yá मनà¥à¤·à¥à¤¯ |
masjid | mosque | Arabic | مسجد / masjid |
maya | illusion (religious) | Sanskrit | maya |
mentega | butter | Portuguese | manteiga |
mi | mee | noodles | Hokkien | 麵,é¢ / mÄ« |
meja | table | Portuguese | mesa |
melati | jasmine (jasminum grandiflorum) | Sanskrit | मालती / mÄlatÄ« |
merana | suffering, wasting away | Sanskrit | mÄraṇa मारण "death" |
merdeka | rich, prosperous and powerful | Sanskrit | Maharddhika |
merdu | melodious, tuneful | Sanskrit | मृदॠ/ mṛdu "soft" |
mesej (not used in Indonesian) | message | English | message |
minggu | week | Portuguese | domingo (domingo means Sunday, "dominus" meaning "Lord" in Latin and "die dominicu" meaning "day of the Lord") |
miskin | poor | Arabic | مسكين / miskīn |
misi | mission | Latin | misi |
mitos | myth | Greek | μÏθος / mýthos |
muflis | bankrupt | Arabic | Ù…Ùلس / maflis |
mula | to start, to begin | Sanskrit | mūla मूल origin |
munafik | hypocrite | Arabic | مناÙÙ‚ / munÄfq |
mungkin | maybe, perhaps, possibly | Arabic | ممكن / mumkin "possible" |
mustahil | impossible | Arabic | مستØيل / mustaḥīl. |
museum | muzium | museum | English Derived from Greek, the "um" suffix is Latin | museum, from Ancient Greek μουσεῖον / mouseîon and Latin suffix "-um" |
nadi | pulse, lifeline | Sanskrit | nÄá¸Ä« नाडी "artery" |
najis | excrement | Arabic | نجس / njis |
nama | name | Sanskrit | naama नाम |
naratif | narrative | English | narrative |
negara | country | Sanskrit | nagara नगर "city" |
nanas | nenas | pineapple | Arabic | أناناس / ʾanÄnÄs |
neraka | hell | Sanskrit | naraka |
nihil | nil, nothing, zero | Latin | nihil |
nota bene | actually, after look carefully, also | Latin | nota bene: examine closely |
nujum | astrologer | Arabic | النجوم / an-nujūm |
nila | indigo dye | Sanskrit | nīla नील "blue" |
nilam | sapphire | Sanskrit | nīlam नीलं "blue" |
nobat | royal ensemble music | Sanskrit | compound nau-, nav(a)- "nine" + bah "combination" = "combination of nine (musical instruments)" |
Nusantara | archipelago (esp. the Malay Archipelago) | Javanese | nusantara |
oknum | authority figure (police, soldier, prosecutor, judge) that perform unlawful or corrupted deed | Latin | ocnum: name personal |
Paderi | priest (Christian) | Portuguese | padre |
pahala | divine reward | Sanskrit | phala फल |
pahlawan | hero/warrior | Persian | پﮩلوان / bahlvÄn |
pancaragam | musical band | Sanskrit | pañca पञà¥à¤š "five" + rÄga राग "melody/tune/musical note" |
pau | steamed bun | Portuguese | pão (bread). This word is also behind "pau"/"pav" in Indian languages or "bÄo" 包 in Chinese) |
perkasa | mighty | Sanskrit | prakáśa पà¥à¤°à¤•à¤¾à¤¶ "enlightened" |
perpustakaan | library | Sanskrit | base word "pustaka" is the Sanskrit word for "book" |
pesta | party | Portuguese | festa |
pasar | market, bazaar | Persian | بازار / bÄzÄr |
peta | map | Tamil | Paá¹aá¹ (படமà¯) |
perdana menteri | prime minister | Sanskrit | pradhÄnamantri पà¥à¤°à¤§à¤¾à¤¨à¤®à¤¨à¥à¤¤à¥à¤°à¤¿à¤¨à¥ |
pertama | first | Sanskrit | prathama पà¥à¤°à¤¥à¤® |
pertiwi | native soil, motherland | Sanskrit | pá¹›thivÄ« पृथिवी/pá¹›thvÄ« पृथà¥à¤µà¥€ "Prithvi", mother goddess of the earth |
piala | cup (in the sense of a trophy) | Persian | پیاله / piyÄlah |
pita | tape | Portuguese | fita |
puasa | fasting | Sanskrit | upavasa |
puja | idolize, worship | Sanskrit | pÅ«jÄ à¤ªà¥‚à¤œà¤¾ |
pura | Hindu temple, city | Sanskrit | pura city/walled enclosure |
punya | possessive verb | Sanskrit | punya पà¥à¤£à¥à¤¯ merit, deserving |
purnama | (of the moon) full | Sanskrit | root pÅ«rṇa पूरà¥à¤£ - cf. "sampurna" |
putra | putera | prince | Sanskrit | putra "royal son" |
purba | ancient | Sanskrit | purva/poorv meaning past |
rahasia | rahsia | secret | Sanskrit | rahasya रहसà¥à¤¯ "mysterious" |
raja | king | Sanskrit | rÄja |
Rabu | Wednesday | Arabic | الأربعاء / al-ʾarbaÊ¿Äʾ |
raksasa | monster | Sanskrit | rÄká¹£asa राकà¥à¤·à¤¸ demon |
rasa | taste | Sanskrit | rasa रस |
ratna | jewel, gemstone | Sanskrit | ratna रतà¥à¤¨ |
renda | lace | Portuguese | renda |
risiko | risk | Dutch | risico |
roda | wheel | Portuguese | roda |
ronda | verb, to patrol | Portuguese | verb, rondar or noun, ronda |
rokok | cigarette | Dutch | roken "to smoke" |
roti | bread | Sanskrit | rutti |
rupa | shape, form, appearance | Sanskrit | rūpa रूप |
sabda | quote, say | Sanskrit | Å›abda शबà¥à¤¦ "word" |
Sabtu | Saturday | Arabic | السبت / as-sabt |
sabun | soap | Portuguese | sabão |
sahaja | casual, relaxed (e.g. duduk bersahaja "seated casually") | Sanskrit | sahaja सहज "natural" |
sains | science | English | science |
sama | same | Sanskrit/Tamil | sama/samam சமம௠|
samseng | gangster | Hokkien | 三牲 / sam-sing |
sakti | miraculous power | Sanskrit | Shakthi |
salju | salji | snow | Arabic | ثلجي / ṯaljī |
sekolah | school | Portuguese | escola |
seks | sex | English | sex, from Latin |
selamat | safe, well-being | Arabic | سلامات / salÄmÄt, used for greeting phrases as 'selamat pagi', etc. |
Selasa | Tuesday | Arabic | الثلاثاء / aṯ-ṯulÄṯÄʾ |
sempurna | perfect, complete | Sanskrit | sampÅ«rṇa संपूरà¥à¤£ complete(d) - cf. "purnama" |
sengsara | Suffering | Sanskrit | samsara |
Senin (Malaysian: "Isnin") | Monday | Arabic | الإثنين / al-ʾiṯnayn |
spanduk | sepanduk | banner | Dutch | spandoek |
sekolah | school | Latin | skho·le |
sepatu (mainly in Indonesian usage) | shoe | Portuguese | sapato |
serigala | wolf | Sanskrit | śṛgÄla शृगाल "jackal" |
seteru | adversary, enemy | Sanskrit | Å›atru शतà¥à¤°à¥ |
singa | lion | Tamil, Sanskrit | singam சிஙà¯à®•à®®à¯, simha सिंह |
sejarah | history | Arabic | syajarah, تواريخ / tawÄrīḫ |
serdadu | soldadu (obsolete) | soldier | Portuguese | soldado |
stadion | stadium | stadium | Greek | στάδιον / stádion "running race in the Ancient Olympics" |
status | status | Latin | status |
sopir | supir (dialectal/Indonesian) | driver | French | chauffeur |
syariah | Islamic law | Arabic | الشريعة / aš-šarīʿaẗ |
syukur | thankful | Arabic | شكر / šukr |
surga | syurga | heaven | Sanskrit | swargam[1] |
sistem | system | English | system |
suci | clean, pure | Sanskrit | Å›uci शà¥à¤šà¤¿ clean |
suka | happiness | Sanskrit | sukha |
sula | to impale | Sanskrit | śūla शूल stake, spear, pike |
syor (not used in Indonesian) | recommendation | Mandarin | 說,说 / shuŠ|
surya | suria | sun | Sanskrit | surya |
takhta | throne | Persian | تخت / taḫt |
tali | string | Sanskrit | talli |
tangki | tank | Portuguese | tanque |
tanglong (not used in Indonesian) | lantern | Hokkien | ç‡ˆç± ,ç¯ç¬¼ / tanglong |
topan | taufan | typhoon | Cantonese, Mandarin, Arabic, Greek | 大風,大风 / daai6 fung1, dà fÄ“ng, طوÙان / á¹Å«fÄn, τυφών / tuphṓn |
taoge | taugeh | bean sprouts | Hokkien | 豆芽,豆芽 / tÄu-gê |
tahu | tauhu | bean curd | Hokkien | è±†è… / tÄu-hÅ« |
tarikh | date | Arabic | Ø§Ù„ØªØ§Ø±ÙŠØ / at-tÄrīḥ |
teh O | black tea | Hokkien | 茶乌,èŒ¶çƒ / tê-oo |
teja (archaic) | magnificence, splendor, radiance | Sanskrit | tejas तेजसॠ|
taksi | teksi | taxi | English | taxi |
teko | teapot | Hokkien | 茶壺,茶壶 / tê-KO |
televisi | television | Dutch | televisie |
televisyen | television | English | television |
tembaga | copper | possibly Sanskrit or Spanish | tÄmra तामà¥à¤° (Sanskrit) or tumbaga (Spanish). The Spanish word rather refers to a copper-gold alloy. |
tempo | tempoh | period | Portuguese | tempo "time" |
topi | hat | Sanskrit | tuppi |
tuala | towel | Portuguese | toalha |
tukar | to exchange | Portuguese | trocar |
universitas | universiti | university | Latin | universitas |
unta | camel | Sanskrit | ushtra |
utama | main | Sanskrit | uttama उतà¥à¤¤à¤® "principal" (adj.) |
utara | north | Sanskrit | uttar(a) |
waktu | time | Arabic | وقت / waqt |
wangsa | dynasty | Sanskrit | vaṃśa वंश "lineage, race" - cf. "bangsa" |
wanita | women | Tamil/Telugu | vanithai (Vanita in Telugu, also thought of came from Spanish word Juanita means women) |
warna | colour | Sanskrit | varna |
warta | news | Sanskrit | vÄrttÄ à¤µà¤¾à¤°à¥à¤¤à¥à¤¤à¤¾ |
zarafah | zirafah | giraffe | Arabic and English | زراÙØ© / zarÄfaẗ |
See also
References
- ↑ The Royal Natural History: Mammals, Richard Lydekker, F. Warne, 1894
- ↑ A Concise Etymological Dictionary of the English Language, first edition 1882.
- ↑ 1670s, via Dutch (kampoeng) or Portuguese, from Malay kampong "village, group of buildings."
- ↑ Oriental herald and journal of general literature, Volume 19, 1828, p394
- ↑ The new American Cyclopaedia: a popular dictionary of general…, Volume 14 edited by George Ripley, Charles Anderson Dana
- ↑ Cootie
- ↑ The Encyclopædia Britannica: a dictionary of arts, sciences, literature and general information, Volume 20, (1911), Hugh Chisholm
- ↑ Word Origins, By Dhirendra Verm
- ↑ Victoria Museum
Further reading
- Loan Words in Indonesian and Malay languages - Professor J.G. de Casparis
- Loan Words in Indonesian and Malay — University of Washington Press. ISBN 978-90-6718-304-8