List of loanwords in Indonesian
The Indonesian language has absorbed many loanwords from other languages, including Sanskrit, Arabic, Persian, Portuguese, Dutch, Chinese and other Austronesian languages.
Indonesian differs from the Malaysian language in a number of respects, primarily due to the different influences both languages experienced and also due to the fact that majority of Indonesians speaks their native language as their first. Bahasa Indonesia function as lingua franca that unites 200 various languages over the archipelago.
Vice versa, many words of Malay-Indonesian origin have also been borrowed into English. Words borrowed into English (e.g., bamboo, orangutan, dugong, amok, and even "cooties") generally entered through Malay language by way of British colonial presence in Malaysia and Singapore, similar to the way the Dutch have been borrowing words from the various native Indonesian languages. One exception is "bantam", derived from the name of the Indonesian province Banten in Western Java (see Oxford American Dictionary, 2005 edition). Another is "lahar" which is Javanese for a volcanic mudflow. Still other words taken into modern English from Malay/Indonesian probably have other origins (e.g., "satay" from Tamil, or "ketchup" from Chinese).
At its development stage, various native terms (mostly Javanese) from all over the archipelago made its way to the language. The Dutch adaptation of the Malay language during colonial period had resulted significant amount of Dutch loanwords and vocabulary. The event significantly affected the original Malay language which gradually developed into the modern Indonesian language.
Chronology
The study on Indonesian etymology and loan words reflected its historical and social context. Examples are the early Sanskrit borrowings probably in the Srivijaya period, the borrowings from Arabic and Persian during the time of the establishment of Islam in particular, and the ones from Dutch during the colonial period. Linguistic history and cultural history are clearly linked.[1]
- Early Hindu and Buddhist influence from India results in many Sanskrit words in Indonesian (and especially adopted through Javanese influence). Indian traders may have contributed words as well, in Tamil and Sanskrit-related languages.
- Indonesian has involved in trade with Chinese since ancient times and also significant of Chinese immigrants began to migrate to Indonesia, as the result some of Chinese language, especially Hokkien dialect being absorbed into Indonesian.
- Muslim influence, which came at first through Arabic and Persian traders, over a number of centuries results in an extensive Arabic influence and also Persian.
- Portuguese contact, trade and colonization in the 16th century was the first contact between Indonesia and European culture, and had an influence that remains today, in spite of the relatively short time period of that influence.
- Dutch colonization and administration, lasting from the 17th century to the 20th, extensively affected the vocabulary. As Dutch-trained linguists determined the rules for the official Indonesian language, Dutch thus affected the structure of the language as well. For example, suffixes such as "-as" (e.g., kualitas = quality), "-asi" (e.g., administrasi = administration), and "-if" (e.g., fiktif = fictive) were applied with consistency. Some loan words are still intensively used today, although there are Indonesian equivalents of them.
- Modern Indonesian regularly adapts new words from other languages, particularly English. In contrast to the large number of mechanical terms borrowed from Dutch (e.g., automotive parts), hitech words are typically taken from English (e.g., internet).
But the processes may also be ‘out of period’; for example, Indonesian words are still being concocted from Sanskrit, and the influence of the Dutch language certainly continued after the Dutch themselves left.[1]
Indonesian has also generalized brand names into common (lower-case) nouns as generic name. For example, "sanyo" refers to any electrical well pump, regardless of manufacturer or "odol" as all of toothpastes. This is similar to the type of generalization that occurs in English words like "xerox" or "tampax" or "polaroid".
List of loanwords
From Austronesian languages
From Minangkabau
Most of Indonesian languages vocabulary are natively derived from Malay, but some might be ultimately loanwords from Minang language. Yet it is unclear, since Malay and Minang are closely related, and some might consider that Minang language was a precursor or old dialect of Malay language.[2]
| Word | Meaning | Original word |
|---|---|---|
| acuh | careful | acuah |
| anjungan | pavilion | anjuang |
| awak | you (regional), crew, member | awak |
| bantah | denies | bantah |
| baruh | lowland | baruah |
| bernas | spirited | boneh |
| bunda | mother | bundo |
| buyung | sonny | buyuang |
| cabul | lewd | cabua |
| cakak | fight | cakak |
| campin | skilled | campin |
| cegak | vigorous | cegak |
| celoteh | babble | ciloteh |
| cemeeh | jeer | cemeeh |
| cengang | amazed | cangang |
| dara | girl, virgin, dove | daro |
| dadih | buttermilk | dadiah |
| dendang | sing | dendang |
| gadang | large | gadang |
| gadis | girl, virgin | gadih |
| gaek | aged | gaek |
| galau | confusion | galau |
| gelimang | mixed | galimang |
| gengsi | prestige | gengsi |
| heboh | commotion, fuss | heboh: noisy |
| himbau | call | imbau |
| jangat | skin | jangek |
| jenjang | ladder | janjang |
| jerang | boiled | jarang |
| jinjing | pick-up | jinjiang |
| junjung | respectful | junjuang |
| kelok | meanders | kelok |
| lamban | slow | lamban |
| lancang | sassy | lancang |
| nan | which, who (connecting word) | nan |
| ngarai | canyon | ngarai |
| nian | very, really, trully | nian |
| pencak | art (martial art) | pancak |
| penghulu | chief of family | panghulu |
| ranah | realm, domain | ranah: land |
| rancak | beautiful | rancak |
| rantau | foreign country | rantau |
| rendang | rendang | randang |
| sanak | family | sanak |
| semarak | splendor | semarak |
| silat | silat (martial art) | silek |
| surau | mosque | surau |
| tandas | demolished | tandeh |
| teroka | open up new areas | taruko |
| terompah | sandals | tarompah |
| tuah | good luck | tuah |
| tungkai | leg | tungkai |
| usang | obsolete | usang |
From Javanese
Compared to Malay language spoken as the native regional language in Sumatra and Malay peninsula or standardized version of Malaysian language, Indonesian language differ profoundly by a large amount of Javanese loanwords incorporated into their already rich vocabulary. This is mostly contributed by Java's position as the center of Indonesian politics, education, and culture, since the capital is located in Jakarta on Java island, albeit in the area where the Javanese are not the majority. The disproportionate number of Javanese that dominate the Indonesian politics is reflected by the fact that six out of seven Indonesian presidents have been ethnic Javanese. The result is that the Javanese began to pour their own vocabulary into Indonesian to describes terms and words that do not have exact counterparts in Malay language. It is also important to note that most of Indonesian Sanskrit loanwords are derived and conducted through Old Javanese, a language whose Sanskrit borrowings number almost 50% of the total vocabulary.
| Word | Meaning | Original word |
|---|---|---|
| adem | cool temperature | adhem |
| adiluhung/adiluhur | refined, highly sophisticated taste | adiluhung |
| amblas | vanish | amblas |
| ambruk | collapse | ambruk |
| among | nurture | among |
| ampuh | potent | ampuh |
| anggun | graceful | anggun |
| angker | haunted | angker |
| anjlok | dropped | anjlok |
| antek | stooge | antek |
| anyar | new | anyar |
| apik | neat, nice | apik |
| asri | beautiful (scenery/nature), neat, clean, nice | asri |
| ayu | beautiful (women), pretty, gorgeous, graceful, elegant | ayu |
| ayom | give shade, foster, protect | ayom, hangayomi |
| baluwarti | palace fortified wall | baluwerti |
| bangsal | hall | bangsal, ultimately from Sanskrit: sala (room) |
| batik | batik | mbatik, from: amba-nitik |
| bejat | depraved | bejat |
| beres | completed | beres |
| betot | pull suddenly | betot |
| bopong | carry | bopong |
| brandal | thugs | brandalan |
| bromocorah | criminal | bromocorah |
| buron/buronan | runaway or fugitive | buron: from buru-an (to be hunted) |
| candi | temple | candhi |
| canggih | sophisticated | canggih |
| cebol | midget | cebol |
| celingukan | look around | celingukan |
| ceplas ceplos | speak out frankly | ceplas ceplos |
| copet | pick pocket | copet |
| dengkul | knee | dengkul |
| doyan | be fond | doyan |
| edan | crazy | edhan |
| empu | maestro, master craftsman | mpu |
| ganteng | handsome | ngganteng |
| gebrakan | blow | gebrakan |
| gede | big | gede |
| gembok | padlock | gembok |
| gendong | pickaback | gendong |
| gerebek | raid | grebeg: traditional ceremony involving mass competing to grab sacred objects |
| gilas | run over | giles |
| gosong | scorched | gosong |
| irit | frugal | irit |
| jagal | butcher | jagal |
| jago | skillful, expert | jago: rooster |
| jagoan | tough guy, hero | jago: rooster |
| jajan | snack | jajan |
| kedut | twitching | kedutan |
| kemben | torso wrap | kembhen |
| kesurupan | possessed | surup: fit, enter |
| konde | bulbous hairdo or hair extension on the back of the head | kondhe |
| lara | sadness (poetic) | lara: sickness |
| larung | intentionally swept or send away through water (river/sea) | larung |
| lapik | base | lapik |
| luhur | noble, high | dhuwur, luhur |
| manut | obedient | manut |
| melengos | looked away | melengos |
| minggat | flee | minggat |
| mumpuni | accomplished | mumpuni |
| nganggur | idle, jobless | nganggur |
| nusantara | Indonesian archipelago, archipelago | nusantara |
| pagar langkan | balustrade | pagar langkan |
| pamrih | intention | pamrih |
| pemirsa | viewers | pemirsa |
| pendopo | roofed front open hall | pendhopo, ultimately from Sanskrit: mandapa (front hall as part of temple) |
| pilek | flu | pilek |
| resik | clean, well maintained | resik |
| sedot | suck | sedot |
| selaras | harmonious | slaras |
| selingkuh | affair | selingkuh |
| semberono | careless | sembrono |
| semrawut | complicated mess, out of order | semrawut |
| sungkan | shy | sungkan |
| tembang | song | tembang |
| tentram | peaceful | tentrem |
| titisan | reincarnated | nitis |
| tuntas | complete | tuntas |
| undakan | stages | undhak |
| unduh | download | unduh |
| unggah | upload | munggah |
| umpak | base | umpak |
From Sundanese
Other than Javanese, Sundanese is another local language that influences Indonesian language's vocabulary, albeit to a lesser extent. This is attributed to the fact that the capital, Jakarta, was formerly a part of West Java, a province which, together with Banten before it too was divided, constitutes the Pasundan (Sundanese world), the most significant non-Javanese region in an otherwise Javanese-dominated Java island. Some of the most populated cities in Indonesia are also located in the Pasundan, including West Java's capital, Bandung, and Jakarta's four satellite cities (Bekasi, Bogor, Depok, and Tangerang).
| Word | Meaning | Original word |
|---|---|---|
| aci | tapioca flour | aci sampeu |
| amburadul | mess, something out of order | amburadul |
| anjangsana | high official visiting | anjangsana |
| balairung | hall | bale riung: traditional building for meeting |
| bloon (spelled blo-'on) | stupid | blo'on/o'on |
| getol | active | getol |
| hatur | to express, to send (polite) | haturkeun |
| jangkung | tall | jangkung |
| juara | champion, winner | jawara: tough guy, fighter, hero |
| kedap | proof as in "kedap air" (waterproof) | kedap |
| kesima | awe, amaze | kesima |
| kesohor | famous | kasohor |
| kolot | old fashioned | kolot: old |
| lalap | raw vegetable, consumed | lalab |
| majikan | boss | majikan |
| menyaru | pretending, camouflaging | verbal form of saru: undistinguishable |
| patungan | chip in, joint-venture, collecting money to buy something for common use | patungan |
| pemulung | waste picker | noun of the verb pulung: pick |
| pengaruh | influence | pangaruh |
| pepes | cooking method using banana leaf wrapping | papais: plural form of pais |
| risih | uneasy, uncomfortable | risih |
| siksa | torture | siksa: education |
| uwa | uncle or aunty older than parent | uwa |
From Betawi
Betawi language is a Malay-based creole that arose from influences by foreign traders who stopped at the capital, Jakarta, including the Chinese and the Arabs. Most of its speakers are the inhabitants of Jakarta, and its influence to Indonesian is attributed to its frequent usage in Indonesian mass media, including radio and television. Its status as a "hip" language by other aspects of Indonesian society is another contributing factor as well.
| Word | Meaning | Original word |
|---|---|---|
| abal-abal | fake, false | abal-abal |
| bangkotan | aged | bangkotan |
| begah | replete | begah |
| butut | old fashioned | butut |
| cebur | splash | cebur |
| entot | copulate | entot |
| gelandang | football midfielder, bringer | gelandang |
| gelandangan | homeless | gelandangan |
| mampus | dead | mampus |
| ngamen | street performance | ngamen |
| ribet | complicated, hard, not easy | ribet |
| rombeng | rags | rombeng |
| timpuk | throw | timpuk |
| udak | chase | udak |
From Nias
| Word | Meaning | Original word |
|---|---|---|
| anda | you (respectful) | anda |
From Batak
| Word | Meaning | Original word |
|---|---|---|
| molek | voluptuous | molek |
From Maluku
| Word | Meaning | Original word |
|---|---|---|
| beta | I, me, myself | béta |
From Manado
| Word | Meaning | Original word |
|---|---|---|
| pasti | surely | so pasti |
From Indian languages
From Sanskrit
Although Hinduism and Buddhism are no longer the major religions of Indonesia, Sanskrit which was the language vehicle for these religions, is still held in high esteem and is comparable with the status of Latin in English and other Western European languages. Sanskrit is also the main source for neologisms, these are usually formed from Sanskrit roots. For example, the name of Jayapura city (former Hollandia) and Jayawijaya Mountains (former Orange Range) in Indonesian province of Papua were coined in the 1960s, both are Sanskrit origin name to replace its Dutch colonial names. Some Indonesian contemporary medals of honor and awards; such as Bintang Mahaputra medal, Kalpataru award and Adipura award, are also Sanskrit derived names.
The loanwords from Sanskrit cover many aspects of religion, art and everyday life. The Sanskrit influence came from contacts with India long ago before the 1st century. The words are either directly borrowed from India or with the intermediary of the Old Javanese language. In the classical language of Java, Old Javanese, the number of Sanskrit loanwords is far greater. The Old Javanese — English dictionary by prof. P.J. Zoetmulder, S.J. (1982) contains no fewer than 25,500 entries. Almost half are Sanskrit loanwords. Sanskrit loanwords, unlike those from other languages, have entered the basic vocabulary of Indonesian to such an extent that, for many, they are no longer perceived to be foreign.
| Word | Meaning | Original word |
|---|---|---|
| acar | pickles | achaar (Hindi) |
| acara | event, item in a programme | ācāra: custom, practice, behavior |
| adakala | sometimes | kadā-kāla: lit. whenever-time |
| adi | ultimate (poetic) | adhi |
| agama | religion | āgama: traditional doctrine, sacred teaching |
| aksara | letter | akṣara |
| alpa | negligent | alpa: small, minute |
| aneka | multifarious, varied, all sorts | aneka: many, various |
| anekaragam | variety show | aneka-rāgam: various color |
| anekawarna | multi-coloured | aneka-varṇa: variety of color |
| anggota | limb, member | aṅga-jāḥ: born from the body, limbs, member |
| angka | numerical figure | aṅka: numerical constant |
| angkara | insolence, cruel | ahaṁ-kāra: ego, pride-maker |
| angkasa | sky | ākāśa |
| angkasawan | astronaut | ākāśa-vān: the sky + having; possessing |
| angsa | goose | haṁsa: swan |
| angsana | Pterocarpus Indica (tree) | asana: Terminalia Tomen Indica (tree) |
| aniaya | maltreatment, abuse, injustice, tyranny | anyāya: sinful activities, mischief |
| antara | among, (in) between | antar: among, between, in the middle |
| anugerah | award, honour, grace | anugraha: to bestow blessings, compassion |
| arti | meaning | krti: understanding |
| asa | hope | āśā |
| asmara | love, passion | smara |
| asrama | dormitory | āśrama |
| atau | or | athavā: alternatively, or, either |
| ayah | father | ārya, ayya (same in Tamil and Telugu) |
| baca | read | vāc: words, talk |
| bagai | as if, like | bhaga: good fortune |
| bagi | for, give | bhāga: "(to) divide" |
| baginda | majesty | bhāgya: part, good fortune + -nda: Austronesian suffix |
| bagus | fine, good, exemplary | bhaga: good fortune, happiness, welfare |
| bahagia | blissful, lucky, blessed, happy | bhāgya: good fortune, luck, happiness |
| bahasa | language | bhāṣā |
| bahaya | danger | bhaya |
| bahtera | ship | vahitra: a boat, ship |
| bahu | shoulder | bāhu: arm |
| bahwa | that (conj.) | bhava: become, state of being |
| baiduri | opal (gem) | vaiḍūrya: cat's eye (gem) |
| bakti, bhakti | homage, devotion, service etc. | bhakti |
| bala | disaster, calamity; also means help, assist | bala: by the strength |
| bangsa | nation, race | vaṁśa: lineage, dynasty |
| bangsawan | noble | vaṁśa-vān: of the dynasty + having, possessing |
| barat | west | bhārata: India, located west from Indonesia |
| basmi | eliminate, destroy | bhasman: devour, consume, pulverize (to ashes) |
| bayu | wind (poetic) | vāyu: Hindu god of wind |
| bela | defend | velā: time-limit, boundary, interval |
| belaka | merely | bālaka: young |
| belanja | shopping, expense | valanja: that which is spent |
| belantara | jungle | vanāntara: (interior of a) forest |
| belia | youth | bālya: childhood age |
| bencana | disaster, calamity | vañcana: deception |
| berahi | passionate love | virahin: separated from one's beloved |
| berhala | idol, image of a god | bhaṭṭāra: lord |
| berita | news | varta |
| bestari | clever | vistārin: extending |
| biara | monastery | vihāra |
| biasa | habitual, usual, ordinary | abhyāsa: habit, repetition, custom, practice |
| biaya | expense | vyaya: loss, expense, spending |
| bicara | speak | vicāra: discussion, consideration |
| bidadari | apsara, nymph, lesser female deities | vidyādhari: fairy, sylph, (fem.) bearer of knowledge |
| bidan | midwife | vidvān: nom. masc. of vidvant: wise |
| bijak | clever, wise | vicakṣana |
| bijaksana | clever, wise | vicakṣana |
| biji | seed | bīja: seed |
| bila | when | vela (time) |
| bina | to build | bhinna: different, fresh, new |
| binaraga | bodybuilding | from combined words bina: to build and raga: body |
| binasa | die, death, destroyed | vināśa: destruction |
| bisa | venom, malice; but also means can, able, potent | viṣa: poison |
| buana | world (poetic) | bhuvana |
| budaya | culture | combination of boddhi: virtue and dhaya: power |
| budi | reason, virtue | buddhi: intellect, discernment, judgment |
| budiman | kind, wise | buddhimān: nom. of buddhi |
| bujangga | scholar | bhujaṅga: snake |
| bukti | proof | bhukti: enjoyment, fruition, possession |
| bumi | earth | bhūmi |
| bupati | the title of regency/regional leader | bhūpati: lord of the earth |
| busana | clothing | bhūṣaṇa |
| cahaya | light | chāyā: lustre, light |
| cakram, cakra | disk, sphere etc. | chakra |
| cakrawala | horizon | cakravāla: mythical mountains at the edge of light and dark |
| candi | temple | caṇḍika: another manifestation of Durga as goddess of death |
| cangkang | shell | śaṅkha: winged shell attribute of Vishnu |
| cerita | story | carita: narration, e.g. Buddhacarita |
| chandra | moon (poetic), lunar | candra: Hindu moon god |
| citra | image | citra: "picture" (Hindi, Sanskrit) |
| citrum | pixel | singular form back-formation of "citra" |
| dana | donation, funds | dāna |
| darma, dharma | duty, good deeds (i.e. charity), truth etc. | dharma |
| dasawarsa | decade | dasa: ten + varṣa: year, rain |
| daya | power | dhaya |
| denda | fine, punishment | daṇḍa |
| derma | alms giving | same origin with dharma |
| desa | village | deśa |
| dewa | god | deva |
| dewi | goddess | devī |
| dirgahayu | long live | dīrgha (long) + āyu (age); āyuṣā = with a life span |
| duka | sadness | duḥkha |
| durjana | evil, wicked, malicious | durjana |
| gajah | elephant | gaja |
| gapura | gate | gopura |
| gaya | stylish, fashionable | gaya: wealth, property |
| genta | bell | ghaṇṭa |
| gerhana | eclipse | grahaṇa: seizure, possession, eclipse |
| gita | song (poetic) | gīta |
| guna | utilize, use, purpose | guṇa: quality, attribute |
| guru | teacher, guru | guru |
| hina | lowly, inferior | hīna: small, lesser, petty |
| istri | wife | strī |
| jaga | awake, guard | jāgṛ, jāgara: to watch over, awake |
| jagat | universe | jagat |
| jala | net, casting net | jāla |
| jambu | tree (Eugenia) | jambu |
| jampi | incantation | japa |
| janda | widow | raṇḍa |
| jasa | merit, service, etc. | yaśas: worth, glory; vyāsa: service |
| jati | tree (Tectonia grandis) | jāti: tree (Jasminum grandiflorum) |
| jawa | Java, Javanese | yava: barley, grain |
| jaya | glorious | jaya |
| jelata | common people | janata |
| jelita | lovely | lalita |
| jelma | incarnation, to become, to turn into | janma: birth |
| jentera | spinning, wheel | yantra: instrument |
| jiwa | life, soul, sanity | jīva: (personal) soul |
| juta | million | ayuta: ten thousand, myriad |
| jutawan | very rich | ayuta+vān: ten thousand + having, possessing |
| kaca | glass | kāca: glass |
| kacamata | glasses, spectacles | kāca: glass |
| kala | time | kāla: time |
| kalau | if | kāla: time |
| kali | time(s), in mathematics | kāla: time |
| kanta | lens | kānta: sun-crystal |
| kapas | cotton | karpāsa |
| karena | because | kāraṇa: cause |
| karma | karma | karma: Hindu-Buddhist concept |
| karsa | initiative, will | karṣa: pulling, obtaining, mastering (√kṛṣ) |
| kartika | star (poetic) | kṛttikā, kārttika: constellation Pleiades, corresponding month (Oct-Nov) |
| karunia | blessing | karuṇa: compassion |
| karya | work, oeuvre | kārya |
| kasturi | musk, musk flower (k.o. hibiscus) | kastūrī: musk |
| kata | word | kathā: speech, talk, story |
| kati | a hundred thousand | koṭi: ten million |
| kelahi | quarrel, fight | kalaha |
| keling | Indian, black-skinned | kāliṅga: inhabitant of Kalinga, south Orissa, India |
| keluarga | family | kula-varga |
| kemboja | flowering tree (Plumeria Acuminata) | kāmboja |
| kencana | gold, golden, grand, glorious | kāñcana: gold |
| kendi | water-pitcher | kuṇḍa |
| kepala | head | kapāla: skull, cranium |
| keranda | coffin | karaṇḍa: basket, box |
| kerja | work | kārya: the work, the manifest products |
| ketika | moment, when | ghaṭakā: hour (24 minutes) |
| kian | become more, as much (many) as | kiyān: how much |
| kosakata | vocabulary | kośa: dictionary, lexicon, vocabulary |
| kota | , city, town | koṭa: stronghold |
| ksatria | warrior, knight | kṣatriya |
| kuasa | power | vaśa: power, control, dominion |
| kuda | horse | kudda |
| kumala | jade, gemstone | komala: gracious, charming |
| kumba | pot | kumbha |
| kunci | key | kucikā, kuñcikā |
| kungkuma | saffron | kuṅkuma |
| kurnia | mercy | kāruṇya: compassion |
| kusta | leprosy | kuṣṭha |
| labu | gourd | alābu |
| laksa | ten thousand | lakṣa: 100,000 |
| laksamana | admiral | lakṣmaṇa: name of Rama's younger brother |
| lawang | door, cinnamon | lavaṅga: clove |
| lela | graceful movement, elegant | līlā: play |
| lena | sleep soundly | līna: lying |
| lencana | seal, emblem, badge | lāñchana |
| lingga | lingga (symbol of Shiva), phallic | liṅga |
| loba | greedy | lobha: greed |
| loka | world, place, realm, abode | loka |
| madu | honey, co-wife | madhu: honey |
| maha | great, super, hyper, very | mahā |
| mahadewa | supreme god | mahā+deva: supreme god |
| mahadewi | supreme goddess | mahā+devi: supreme goddess |
| maha esa | all-mighty | maheśa = mahā+īśa: supreme lord |
| mahaguru | professor | mahā+guru: great teacher |
| maharaja | king | mahā+rāja: great king |
| maharani | queen | mahārani |
| mahasiswa | (male) college/university student | mahā-śiṣya: great-student (masc.) |
| mahasiswi | (female) college/university student | mahā-śiṣyā: great-student (fem.) |
| mahkota | crown | mukuṭa |
| mala | stain, dirt | mala: dirt, filth, impurity |
| malapetaka | calamity, disaster | mahā + pātaka: great + sin or collapse |
| manakala | when | māna-kāla: in honor of time |
| mani | sperm | maṇi: pearls, gem, jewel |
| manik | bead, sequin, jewel | maṇi: pearl, gem, jewel |
| mantera | mantra | mantra |
| menteri | minister (head of a government department) | mantri |
| merajalela | rage, raging, at large, rampant | maharaja-līlā: king + play |
| merdeka | freedom, liberty | mahā-ṛdhika: great prosperity |
| mitra | partner | mitra: friend |
| muka | face | mukha |
| mula | to start, to begin | mūla: origin |
| naga | dragon | nāga: serpent deities |
| nama | name | nāma |
| negara | country | nagara: city |
| negeri | city (lit.) | nagarī: city (fem.) |
| neraka | hell | naraka |
| nirwana | an ideal condition of harmony or joy | nirvana |
| nusa | island (poetic) | nūsa |
| pahala | merit, reward (for moral conduct) | phala (of fruits, of results) |
| paksa | to force | pakṣa: side, faction, partisan, adherent |
| pekerti | character, nature | prakṛti: origin, character, nature, pattern |
| pendeta | priest | paṇḍita: learned, scholar, skilled |
| pendopo | hall | maṇḍapa, through Javanese: pendhapa |
| perkasa | powerful, forceful, manly | prakāśa: shining, manifest, renowned |
| perkosa | rape | prakāśa (same origin as perkasa) |
| pertama | first | prathama |
| perwira | high-ranked military official | pravīra: brave or eminent man, hero, chief |
| pria | man/men | priya: beloved, dear |
| puasa | fasting | upavāsa: fasting, abstinence |
| puja | worship, adore | pūjā |
| punya | have, possessive verb | puṇya: merit, virtue |
| pura | Hindu temple, city | pura: city/walled enclosure |
| purba | ancient | pūrva |
| puri | palace | pura: city/walled enclosure |
| pustaka | book | pustaka |
| puspa | flower (poetic) | puṣpa |
| putera, putra | son | putra: prince |
| puteri, putri | daughter, princess | putrī: princess |
| raga | body | rāga: color, feeling, beauty |
| rahasia | secret | rahasya |
| raja | king | rāja |
| raksasa | giant, monster | rākṣasa: beast-like demon |
| rani | queen | rāṇī, rājñī |
| rasa | emotion, feeling, taste | rasa |
| ratna | jewel, gemstone (poetic) | ratna |
| resmi | official | raśmi: string, leash, ray of light |
| rupa | look, appearance | rūpa: form, likeness |
| sabda | proclamation (poetic) | śabda: voice, speech |
| sakti | powerful | śakti: power, energy |
| samudra | ocean | samudra |
| sasana | training hall | śāsana: teaching |
| sastra | literature | śāstra: scripture, teaching |
| satwa | fauna, animals | sattva: sentint being, "that which is" |
| semadi, samedi | meditation, contemplation | samādhi |
| semesta | whole, total | samasta: united, whole, all |
| sempurna | perfect | sampūrṇa: entirely, complete |
| sengsara | suffering | saṁsāra: continuous flow of reincarnation |
| senopati | general, military leader (archaic) | senāpati |
| seteru | enemy | śatru |
| setia | loyal, truthful | satya: truth, correct; satī: faithful wife |
| serba | all, everything, complete | sarva: all or everything |
| singa | lion | siṁha |
| singgasana | throne | siṁhāsana: the lion throne |
| suami | husband | svāmī |
| suara | sound | svara |
| suka | like, happy | sukha |
| sukma | soul | sūkṣma: subtle, atomic |
| sunyi | quiet (situation) | śūnya: zero, nothing |
| surga | heaven | svarga |
| surya | sun (poetic), solar | sūrya: Hindu sun god |
| susila | modesty, appropriate | suśīla |
| swa- | do something by oneself | sva-: self, own |
| tali | rope, string | talli |
| tata | order, to arrange | tathā: thus, in that manner |
| topi | hat | topi |
| unta | camel | uṣṭra |
| upacara | ceremony | upacāra: ceremony, religious ritual |
| usaha | effort | utsaha |
| usia | age | āyuṣa: life-span |
| utama | ultimate, the most important, foremost | uttama |
| utara | north | uttara |
| wahana | ride, vehicle | vahana |
| wana | forest (poetic) | vana |
| wangsa | dynasty, royal house | vaṁśa: lineage |
| wanita | woman, lady | vanitā: wife, woman |
| warna | colour | varṇa |
| warta | news | varta (same origin as berita) |
| warta berita | news broadcast | varta |
| wihara | Buddhist Temple | vihāra |
| yudha | war, battle (poetic) | yuddha |
From Tamil
Loanwords from Tamil, while also an Indian language (though not Indo-European as in Sanskrit), mainly exist in cuisine, like Chinese and unlike Sanskrit. It mainly entered the lexicon of Malay (and by extension, Indonesian) with the immigration of South Indian traders who settled around the Strait of Malacca.
| Word | Meaning | Original word |
|---|---|---|
| apam | kind of cake | apam |
| gulai | kind of curry | gulai |
| kapal | boat | kappal |
| kata | say | katai |
| kedai | foodstall | Kaddai |
| kuil | temple | koil |
| mangga | mango | manga |
| roti | bread | rotti |
| topi | hat | toppi |
From Middle Eastern languages
From Arabic
The loanwords from Arabic are mainly concerned with religion, in particular with Islam. Allah is the word for God even in Christian Bible translations. Many early Bible translators, when they came across some unusual Hebrew words or proper names, used the Arabic cognates. In the newer translations this practice is discontinued. They now turn to Greek names or use the original Hebrew Word. For example, the name Jesus was initially translated as 'Isa, but is now spelt as Yesus. Psalms used to be translated as Zabur, the Arabic name, but now it is called Mazmur which corresponds more with Hebrew.
| Word | Meaning | Original word | Transcription, notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| abdi | servant | عَبْد | ʻabd |
| adab | civilize, proper | أَدَب | adab |
| adat | custom | عادة | ʻāda |
| ahad | Sunday (Islamic) | الأحد | al-ahad |
| ajaib | magical | عجائب | ʻajāʼīb |
| akad | contract, promise | عَقْد | ʻaqd |
| akal | reason | عَقْل | ʻaql |
| akhir | end | آخِر | ʼākhir |
| akhirat | hereafter | آخِرة | ākhira |
| akhlak | character, nature (of person) | أَخْلاق | akhlāq |
| alam | nature | عالَم | ʻālam: world, earth |
| alami | natural | عالَميّ | ʻālamiyy |
| aljabar | algebra | الجَبْر | al-jabr |
| amal | alms giving, good deed | عَمَل | ʻamal: work |
| aman | safe, secure | أمان | ʼamān |
| anda | you (formal) | أَنْتَ | anta |
| asal | origin | أَصْل | ʼaṣl |
| asas | foundation, basis | أَساس | ʼasās |
| asasi | foundational, basic | أَساسيّ | ʼasāsiyy |
| asli | real, original | أَصْليّ | ʼaṣliyy |
| awal | beginning | أَوَّل | ʼawwal |
| badan | body | بَدَن | badan |
| bahari | maritime, naval, of the sea | بَحْريّ | baḥriyy |
| batin | inner self | بَطْن | baṭn: stomach |
| berkah, berkat | blessing | بَرَكة | baraka |
| daftar | list | دَفْتَر | daftar: notebook |
| dakwah | sermon | دَعْوة | da'wa |
| dunia | world | دُنْيا | dunyā |
| fakir | poor person, pauper | فَقير | faqīr |
| hadiah | gift, present | هدية | hadiyyah |
| halal | religiously lawful | حَلال | ḥalāl |
| hak | right | حَقّ | ḥaqq |
| hakikat | truth, base | حَقيقة | ḥaqīqa |
| hakiki | true, real | حَقيقيّ | ḥaqīqiyy |
| hakim | judge (in court of law) | حاكِم | ḥākim |
| haram | religiously unlawful | حَرام | ḥarām |
| harfiah | literal | حِرَفيّ | ḥirafiyy |
| hayati | living | حَياتيّ | ḥayātiyy |
| hewan | animal | حَيَوان | ḥayawān |
| hikmah | wisdom, deeper meaning | حِكْمة | ḥikma |
| hukum | law | حُكْم | ḥukm |
| huruf | letter (of an alphabet) | حُروف | ḥurūf |
| ijazah | diploma | إجازة | ʼijāza: license |
| ikrar | pledge, declaration | إقْرار | ʼiqrār |
| ilmiah | scientific | عِلْميّ | ʻilmiyy |
| ilmu | knowledge, science | عِلْم | ʻilm |
| istirahat | rest, break, pause, recess | اسْتَراحة | istarāḥa |
| izin | permission, to permit | إذْن | ʼidhn |
| Ikhlas | sincere | مخلَص | Ikhlās |
| jadwal | schedule | جَدْوَل | jadwal |
| jahanam | cursed, damned | جَهَنَّم | jahannam: hell |
| jahil | prank, practical joke | جاهِل | jāhil: ignorant, uninformed |
| jawab | answer | جَواب | jawāb |
| jenazah | corpse | جَنازة | janāza: funeral |
| jilbab | hijab, head covering | جلباب | jilbāb: loose coat |
| Jumat | Friday | الجُمْعة | al-jumʻa |
| kabar | news | خَبَر | khabar |
| kafan | white shroud (to cover the dead) | كَفَن | kafan |
| kafir | infidel | كافِر | kāfir |
| Kamis | Thursday | الخَميس | al-khamīs |
| kamus | dictionary | قاموس | qāmūs |
| kertas | paper | قِرْطاس | qirṭās |
| khas | specialty | خاصّ | khāṣṣ |
| khitan | circumcision | خِتان | khitān |
| kitab | religious book | كِتاب | kitāb |
| korban | sacrifice | قُرْبان | qurbān |
| kuliah | college | كُلّيّة | kulliyya: faculty |
| kurma | date palm | كَرْمة | karma: grapevine |
| kursi | chair | كُرْسيّ | kursiyy |
| kurun | span (of time) | قُرون | qurūn: centuries |
| laskar | soldier | العَسْكَر | al-ʻaskar |
| lisan | verbally, tongue | لِسان | lisān |
| maaf | sorry, to apologise | ما أَفَّ | ma affa |
| mahkamah | court of law | مَحْكَمة | maḥkama |
| majelis | assembly, board, council | مَجْلِس | majlis |
| makna | meaning | مَعْنًى | maʻnan |
| maksud | meaning, purpose | مَقْصود | maqsūd |
| maktub | written | مَكْتوب | maktūb |
| malaikat | angel | مَلائكة | malāʼika |
| masalah | problem | مَسْأَلة | masʼala |
| masjid | mosque | مَسْجِد | masjid |
| maut | dead, deadly | مَوْت | mawt |
| menara | tower | مَنارة | manāra |
| Mesir | Egypt | مِصْر | miṣr |
| miskin | poor | مِسْكين | miskīn |
| mubazir | useless | مُبَذِّر | mubaḏḏir |
| muflis | bankrupt | مُفْلِس | muflis |
| mungkin | maybe | مُمْكِن | mumkin |
| munafik | hypocrite | مُنافِق | munāfiq |
| murtad | apostate | مُرْتَدّ | murtadd |
| musim | season | مَوْسِم | mawsim |
| mustahil | impossible | مُسْتَحيل | mustaḥīl |
| nabi | prophet | نَبيّ | nabiiy |
| nafsu | desire | نَفْس | nafs: self, soul |
| najis | impure, unclean | نَجِس | najis |
| nasihat | advice | نَصيحة | naṣīḥa |
| nikah | to marry | نيكَ | niika |
| paham | to understand | فَهْم | fahm |
| petuah | lesson, advice | فَتْوى | fatwā |
| pikir | to think | فِكْر | fikr |
| Rabu | Wednesday | الأَرْبِعاء | al-ʼarbiʻāʼ |
| rahim | uterus, womb | رَحِم | raḥim |
| rahmat | blessing | رَحْمة | raḥma |
| rakyat | people, citizen | رَعيّة | raʻiyya |
| rasul | prophet, apostle | رَسول | rasūl |
| rehat, rihat | rest | راحة | rāḥa |
| saat | moment | ساعة | sāʻa: hour |
| sabar | patient | صَبْر | ṣabr |
| Sabtu | Saturday | السَبْت | as-sabt |
| sabun | soap | صابون | ṣābūn |
| sahabat | close friend | صَحابة | ṣaḥāba |
| salat | to pray (for Muslims) | صَلاة | ṣalāh |
| saleh | pious | صالِح | ṣāliḥ |
| salju | snow | ثَلْج | thalj |
| saum | fasting | صَوْم | ṣawm |
| sebab | cause, reason | سَبَب | sabab |
| sedekah | charitable gift, alms | صَدَقة | ṣadaqa |
| sehat | healthy | صِحّة | ṣiḥḥa |
| selamat | safe, well-being | سَلامة | salāma |
| Selasa | Tuesday | الثُلاثاء | ath-thulāthāʼ |
| Senin | Monday | الإثْنَيْن | al-ithnayn |
| serikat | company, federation | شَرِكَة | syarika |
| siasat | strategy, trick | سِياسة | siyāsa: policy, strategy |
| sifat | characteristic, trait, quality | صِفة | ṣifa |
| soal | question, problem | سُؤال | suʼāl |
| surat | letter | سورة | sūra |
| subuh | early morning | صباح | ṣabāḥ |
| sultan | king | سلطان | sultan |
| syariat | Islamic law | شَريعة | sharīʻa |
| syukur | gratitude | شُكْر | shukr |
| tabib | traditional healer | طَبيب | ṭabīb |
| terjemah | to translate | تَرْجَمة | tarjama |
| tertib | orderly | تَرْتيب | tartīb |
| umum | common, public | عُموم | ʻumūm |
| umur | age | عُمْر | ʻumr |
| unsur | element | عُنْصُر | ʻunṣur |
| wahid | one, the only | واحِد | wāḥid |
| wajah | face | وَجْه | wajh |
| waktu | time | وَقْت | waqt |
| waris | to inherit | وارِث | wārith |
| wilayah | region, area | وِلاية | wilāya |
| yakin | confidence, sureness, belief | يَقين | yaqīn |
| Yunani | Greece | يونان | yūnān |
| zaitun | olive | زَيْتون | zaytūn |
| zakar | male genitalia | ذَكَر | dhakar |
| zakat | alms | زَكاة | zakāh |
| zaman | era | زَمَن | zaman |
| zamrud | emerald | زُمُرُّد | zumurrud |
| ziarah | pilgrimage | زيارة | ziyāra: visit |
| zinah | adultery | زِناء | zināʼ |
From Persian
| Word | Meaning | Original word | Transcription, notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| anggur | grape | انگور | an-gur |
| bandar | port | بندر | bandar |
| cadar | veil | چادر | chādar |
| dewan | assembly, meeting | دیوان | divan (administration) |
| firdaus | eden, bountiful garden | فردوس | firdaus |
| gandum | wheat | گندم | gandum |
| juang | battle | جنگ | jang |
| kaisar | emperor | قیصر | qeysar |
| kismis | raisin | کشمش | kishmish |
| kurma | date | خرما | khurmā |
| medan | area, field, square | میدان | meidan |
| nakhoda | captain of a ship | ناخدا | nākhodā |
| pahlawan | hero | پﮩلوان | pahlwān |
| pasar | market/bazaar | بازار | bāzār |
| pesona | charm | افسون | afsūn |
| piala | cup, trophy | پیاله | pyāla (cup, bowl) |
| pirus | turquoise | سنگ فیروزه | firuze |
| rubah | fox | روباه | rubah |
| sihir | magic | سِحْر | sihr |
| syahbandar | portmaster | شاهِ بندر | shah-e bandar (lit. "king of the port") |
| takhta | throne | تخت | takht |
| ustad | teacher (religious, Islam) | اُستَاذ | ustad |
| zirah | armor | زره | zirah |
From East Asian languages
From Chinese
The Chinese loanwords are usually concerned with cuisine, trade or often just exclusively things Chinese. According to the 2000 census, the relative number of people of Chinese descent in Indonesia (termed the peranakan) is almost 1% (totaling to about 3 million people, although this may likely be an underestimate due to an anti-Chinese sentiment that exists in some circles of the population), yet the peranakan are the most successful when it comes to business, trade, and cuisine. Words of Chinese origin (presented here with accompanying Hokkien/ Mandarin pronunciation derivatives as well as traditional and simplified characters) include pisau (匕首 bǐshǒu – knife), mie (T:麵, S:面, Hokkien mī – noodles), lumpia (潤餅 (Hokkien = lūn-piáⁿ) – springroll), teko (T:茶壺, S:茶壶 = cháhú [Mandarin], teh-ko [Hokkien] = teapot), 苦力 kuli = 苦 khu (bitter) and 力 li (energy) and even the widely used slang terms gua and lu (from the Hokkien 'goa' 我 and 'lu/li' 你 – meaning 'I/ me' and 'you'). Almost all loan words in Indonesian with Chinese origin comes from Hokkien (福建) dialect and Hakka (客家). Loan words in Indonesian with Chinese origins.
| Word | Meaning | Original Character | Original Word | Original Word Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| amah | Chinese female house-assistant | 阿嫲 | aa3maa4 (Cantonese) | paternal grandmother |
| amoi | Chinese girl | 阿妹 | amoi (Hakka) | younger sister |
| angciu | cooking wine used for food flavour enhancer | 紅酒 | ang ciu | red wine |
| anglo | small stove | T:洪爐, S:洪炉 | anglô͘ (Hokkien) | furnance |
| angpao | gift money for Chinese New Year | T:紅包, S:红包 | âng-pau (Hokkien) | Red envelope |
| baba | addressing Chinese male | 爸爸 | ba̍ba (Hokkien) | Father |
| bak | (Chinese black) ink | 墨 | ba̍k (Hokkien) | 1. Chinese ink or ink in general 2. black; ink-coloured; dark |
| bakcang | glutinous rice dumpling filled with meat | 肉粽 | bak cang | |
| bakiak | Wooden Clog | 木屐 | ba̍k-kia̍h (Hokkien) | Clog |
| bakmie | meat noodle | 肉麵 | bak mie | |
| bakpau | meatbun | 肉包 | bak pao | |
| bakso | meatball | (肉球?) | bak so | |
| bihun | rice vermicelli | 米粉 | bí-hún (Hokkien) | 1. rice vermicelli 2. rice flour |
| cap cai | stir fried vegetable dish | 杂菜 | cha̍p-chhài | |
| cawan | cup | 茶碗 | cháwǎn (Mandarin) | teacup |
| cukong | tycoon | 主公 | chú-kong (Hokkien) | Your Excellency; His Excellency |
| dacin | balance scale | (抬輕?) | dacin | |
| gua | me (slang) | 我 | góa (Hokkien) | I, me |
| hoki | luck, fortune | T:福氣, S:福气 | hok-khì (Hokkien) | good fortune |
| kakak | older sibling addressing someone slightly older | 哥哥 | ko—ko (Hokkien) | older brother, elder brother, big brother |
| kecap | soy sauce (ketchup is 'saus tomat', not kecap) | 茄汁 | ke4-2 zap1 (Cantonese) | 1. tomato juice 2. ketchup |
| kerangkeng | cage | T:-間, S:-间 | -keng (Hokkien) | room |
| kue | cake, pastries | 粿 | kóe (Hokkien) | rice cake |
| kuli | slave, labourer | 苦力 | ku-lí (Hokkien) | 1. labor; hard work 2.a coolie; a laborer |
| kwetiau | kway teow (flat noodle) | T:粿條, S:粿条 | kóe-tiâu (Hokkien) | kway teow |
| lihai | skillful | 厲害 | li hai | |
| lobak | daikon, radish | 蘿蔔 | lo ba | |
| loténg | 2nd storey of a house, attic | 樓頂 | lao teng | |
| lu | you (slang) | 你 | lu/li | |
| lumpia | spring roll | 潤餅 | lun pia | |
| mak comblang | matchmaker | 媒紅娘(?) | ||
| mesiu | gunpowder | |||
| mi / mie | noodle | T:麵, S:面 | mī (Hokkien) mien (Hakka) | flour, dough, noodle |
| micin pécin | MSG (flavouring for cooking) | 味精 | mei6 zing1 (Cantonese) vetsin (Mandarin) | |
| nyonya | madame, lady | 娘惹 | noeng3 ja1 (Cantonese) | beloved perfect woman |
| pisau | knife | 匕首 | bei6 sau2 (Cantonese) pí-siú (Hokkien) | dagger |
| sempoa | abacus, suanpan | T:算盤, S:算盘 | sǹg-pôaⁿ (Hokkien) | abacus |
| singkék | Chinese newcomer (derogative), pure blooded Chinese, i.e. not of mixed ancestry | 新客 | sinkhek | |
| siomay | shumai (wrapped and steamed with fillings) | T:燒賣, S:烧卖 | siau-māi | |
| tahu | tofu | 豆腐 | tāu-hū (Hokkien) | tofu, bean curd |
| teh | tea | 茶 | tê (Hokkien) | tea |
| teko | tea pot | T:茶壺, S:茶壶 | tê ô͘ (Hokkien) | teapot |
| Tionghoa | Chinese | T:中華, S:中华 | tiong-hôa (Hokkien) zhōnghuá (Mandarin) | Chinese |
| Tiongkok | China | T:中國, S:中国 | tiong-kok (Hokkien) zhōngguó (Mandarin) | China |
From Japanese
Japanese loan words are usually related to culture of Japan or Japanese colonial administration.
| Word | Meaning | Original Word | Original Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| banzai | Japanese long life cheers | 万歳 banzai | long life cheers |
| bonsai | miniature potted plant | 盆栽 bonsai | miniature potted plant |
| dakocan | air-filled black plastic dolls | ダッコちゃん Dakko-chan | air-filled black plastic dolls |
| dan | rank for judo, karate, and kenpo | 段 dan | rank in Japanese, Chinese and Korean martial arts and Go |
| ebi | dried shrimp | えび ebi | prawn; shrimp; lobster; crayfish |
| gunseikan | Japanese military government | 軍政官 gunseikan | military government |
| harakiri | ritual suicide; (self-)disembowelment in Japan | 腹切 harakiri | ritual suicide; (self-)disembowelment |
| haiku | haiku | 俳句 haiku | haiku |
| heiho | Japanese colonial era assistance force | 兵補 heiho | supplementary army |
| (ber-)jibaku | 1. suicide bomber 2. reckless, desperate attack | 自爆 jibaku | suicide bombing, self-destruction |
| ikebana | flower arranging art | 生花 ikebana | flower arrangement |
| ipon | crushing victory | 一本 ippon | 1. one (...) 2. one version 3. one book; 4. a certain book 5. one point; 6. a blow 7. experienced 8. single-minded focus |
| kamikaze | divine wind suicide attacks by military aviators from Japan in World War 2 | 神風 kamikaze | divine wind suicide attacks by military aviators from Japan in World War 2 |
| karaoke | karaoke | 空オケ karaoke | karaoke |
| keibodan | Japanese colonial police asistant | 警防団 keibōdan | civil defense unit |
| kempetai | Japanese military police | 憲兵隊 kenpeitai | military police corps |
| kimono | 1. Japanese traditional dress 2. Bathrobe | 着物 kimono | 1. cloth 2. kimono |
| kumico | people association leader | 組長 kumichō | people association leader |
| taiso | Japanese gymnastics | 体操 taisho | gymnastics; physical exercises; calisthenics |
| tatami | Sport play area | 畳 tatami | Japanese straw floor coverings |
| takeyori | bamboo spear | 竹槍 takeyori | bamboo spear |
| tekidanto | grenade launcher | 擲弾筒 tekidantō | grenade launcher |
| tsunami | tsunami | 津波 tsunami | tsunami tidal wave |
| yuyitsu | jujitsu | 柔術 jujitsu | jujitsu |
From European languages
European influence over Indonesian language is significantly influenced through European intervention and colonialism, the most significant evident is the usage of Latin alphabet instead of various local scripts. Portuguese had first arrived in the archipelago and influenced the original Malay language after their conquest of Malacca. The Portuguese dominance over trade in the region and control of the spice island of Moluccas had significantly increase Portuguese influence in trade and also through the introduction of Christianity over the region. The Dutch however shows the most influence in the language, being in control of Indonesia for 300 years after eliminating the Portuguese as a player over control of the archipelago. Dutch language itself wasn't properly introduced over the archipelago before 1799 when the Netherlands' crown took over the colony from the already bankrupt VOC (Dutch East India company), previously the Malay language was adapted by VOC due to its trade and diplomatic benefit which led to mass loanword over the language. English to an extend also have influence over the archipelago's language, being the third most favored foreign language by the educated in the colonial days. English however plays more role over the nation's official language through recent globalization.
From Portuguese
Alongside Malay, Portuguese was the lingua franca for trade throughout the archipelago from the sixteenth century through to the early nineteenth century. The Portuguese were among the first westerners to sail east to the "Spice Islands". Loanwords from Portuguese were mainly connected with articles the early European traders and explorers brought to Southeast Asia.[3]
| Word | Meaning | Original word |
|---|---|---|
| akta | act (law) | acta |
| algojo | executioner | algoz |
| armada | fleet | armada |
| bangku | chair | banco: bench |
| baret | barrette | barrete |
| Belanda | Dutch, Holland | Holanda |
| bendéra | flag | bandeira |
| beranda | verandah, porch | varanda |
| biola | violin | viola |
| bola | ball | bola |
| (kué) bolu | (a type of) cake | bolo |
| bonéka | doll | boneca |
| cerutu | cigar | charuto |
| dansa | dance (not including traditional dance) | dança |
| dadu | dice | dado |
| gagu | mute | gago: stutterer, stuttering |
| ganco | hook | gancho |
| garpu | fork | garfo |
| geréja | church | igreja |
| gratis | free (not having to pay) | gratis (Dutch: gratis) |
| jendéla | window | janela |
| kaldu | broth | caldo |
| kanal | channel | canal (Dutch: kanaal) |
| kéju | cheese | queijo |
| keméja | shirt | camisa |
| keréta | chariot/cart | carreta |
| kertas | paper | cartas (papel) |
| kredo | creed | credo |
| lelang | auction | leilão |
| lemari | closet | armário |
| meja | table | mesa |
| mentéga | butter | manteiga |
| Minggu | Sunday | domingo |
| misa | mass | missa |
| mitos | myth | mitos |
| nanas | pineapple | ananas |
| natal | Christmas | natal |
| noda | stain | nodoa |
| nona | young woman | dona |
| nyonya | lady | donha |
| pasta | paste | pasta |
| pesiar | cruise, excursion | passear |
| pesta | party | festa |
| pigura | picture, figure | figura |
| pita | ribbon | fita |
| pompa | pump | bomba hidráulica, (Dutch: pomp) |
| roda | wheel | roda |
| saku | pocket, bag | saco |
| santo | saint | santo |
| sekolah | school | escola (Latin: schola) |
| sepatu | shoe | sapato |
| serdadu | soldier | soldado |
| témpo | time | tempo |
| tenda | tent | tenda |
| terigu | wheat | trigo |
| tinta | ink | tinta |
| tolol | fool | tolo |
| tukar | exchange | trocar |
From Dutch
The former colonial power, the Netherlands, left an extensive vocabulary. These Dutch loanwords, and also from other non Italo-Iberian, European languages loanwords which came via Dutch, cover all aspects of life. Some Dutch loanwords, having clusters of several consonants, pose difficulties to speakers of Indonesian. This problem is usually solved by insertion of the schwa. For example, Dutch schroef [ˈsxruf] → sekrup [səˈkrup]. Many Indonesian vocabulary ending "-i" (e.g.:administras-i) also are known from the Dutch vocabulary influence "-ie" (e.g.:administrat-i.e.). All the months from January (Januari) to December (December) used in Indonesian are also derived from Dutch. It is estimated that 10,000 words in Indonesian language can be traced to the Dutch language.[4]
| Word | Meaning | Original word |
|---|---|---|
| abolisi | abolition | abolitie |
| administrasi | administration | administratie |
| advokat | lawyer | advocaat |
| afdeling | division, section | afdeling |
| Agustus | August | augustus |
| aktual | current (adj) | actueel |
| aliansi | alliance | alliantie |
| amnesti | amnesty, state-granted pardon | amnestie |
| antik | antique | antiek |
| apartemen | apartment | appartement |
| apotek/apotik | pharmacy | apotheek |
| April | April | April |
| arde | ground (electricity) | aarde |
| arbéi | strawberry | aardbei |
| artikel | article | artikel |
| arloji | watch | horloge |
| asbak | ashtray | asbak |
| atret | aback | achteruit |
| ban | tire | band |
| barikade | barricade | barricades |
| baskom/waskom | washbasin | waskom |
| baterai | battery | batterij |
| baut & mur | bolt & nut | bout & moer |
| begel | bracket | beugel |
| beha | brassiere | beha |
| beken | famous, notorious | bekend |
| bekleding | chair lining | bekleding |
| béngkél | workplace | winkel: store, originally angle |
| besuk | visiting | bezoeken |
| bioskop | cinema | bioscoop |
| bis | bus | bus [bʏs] |
| bon | receipt | bon |
| brankas | safe deposit box | brandkast |
| branwir | firefighter squad | brandweer |
| bruder | Roman Catholic friar | broeder: brother |
| buku | book | boek |
| buncis | green beans | boontjes |
| cokelat | chocolate | chocolade |
| dah/dadah | good-bye | dag: (good) day |
| dak | roof | dak |
| dasi | necktie | das(je) |
| debat | debate | debat |
| December | December | December |
| departemen | department | departement |
| diskusi | discussion | discussie |
| dokter | medical doctor | dokter |
| dosis | dose | dosis |
| duit | money | duit: a copper Dutch coin |
| egois | selfish | egoïst: egoist |
| émbér | bucket | emmer |
| éngsél | hinges | hengsel |
| Eropa | Europe | Europa |
| faktur | invoice | factuur |
| fantastis | fantastic | fantastisch |
| Februari | February | februari |
| frambus | raspberry | framboos |
| gaji | wages | gage |
| gang | alley | gang |
| gardu | to guard, watch post | garde |
| gerilya | guerrilla | guerrilla |
| gorden | curtain | gordijn |
| gubernur | governor | gouverneur |
| halo | hello | hallo |
| handuk | towel | handdoek |
| hanger | hanger | hanger |
| halte bus | bus stop | bushalte |
| helm | helmet | helm |
| hipotek | mortgage | hypotheek |
| ide | idea | idee |
| identik | identical | identiek |
| ilusi | ilussion | ilusie |
| imun | immune | immuun |
| indehoy | forbidden sexual intercourse | inhethooi:[5] in the hay |
| Indo | Eurasian, mestizo | abbreviation of Indo-European |
| infanteri | infantry | infanterie |
| insinyur | engineer | ingenieur |
| institut | institute | instituut |
| intim | intimate | intiem |
| Januari | January | januari |
| jas | coat | jas |
| Juni | June | juni |
| jus | juice | jus |
| Juli | July | juli |
| kabel | cable | kabel |
| kaisar | emperor | keizer |
| kakus | toilet | verb: kakken/noun: kakhuis |
| kalem | calm | kalm |
| kalkun | turkey | kalkoen |
| kamar | room | kamer |
| kantor | office | kantoor |
| karakter | character | karakter |
| karcis | ticket | kaartjes: plural for diminutive of kaart, card or ticket) |
| kartu | card | kaart |
| kastanye | chestnut | kastanje |
| katun | cotton | katoen |
| kavaleri | cavalry | cavalerie |
| kelar | ready, finished | klaar |
| kelas | class | klas |
| keran | faucet, tap | kraan |
| knalpot (or kenalpot) | muffler (on a motor vehicle) | knalpot |
| kol | cabbages | kool |
| kolega | colleague | collega |
| komandan | commander | commandant |
| komentar | comment | commentaar |
| komersil | commercial | commercieel |
| komisaris | commissioner | commissaris |
| kondisi | condition | conditie |
| kongres | congress | congres |
| kopi | coffee | koffie |
| kopling | clutch | koppeling |
| kopor | suitcase | koffer |
| kor/koor | choir | koor |
| korsleting/konslet | short circuit | kortsluiting |
| korting/diskon | discount | korting/disconteren |
| korup | corrupt | corrupt |
| korupsi | corruption | corruptie |
| kos/indekos | room rental | kost:[5] cost; board |
| kuitansi | receipt | kwitantie |
| kulkas | ice box or refrigerator | koelkast |
| kursus | course | cursus |
| kusén | window frame | kozijn |
| laci | deskdrawer | laatje: diminutive form of la(de) |
| lampu | lamp | lamp |
| limun | lemonade | limoen: lemon |
| lisensi | license | licentie |
| listrik | electric | elektrisch |
| loket | pay box | loket |
| makelar | broker | makelaar |
| mantel | coat | mantel |
| Maret | March | maart |
| maskapai | airline | maatschappij: company |
| massa | mass (bulk, load) | massa |
| matras | bed | matras |
| mebel | furniture | meubel |
| media massa | mass media | massamedia |
| Mei | May | mei |
| meises | sprinkles | muisjes |
| merek | brand | merk |
| migrasi | migration | migratie |
| minder | not confident | minder: minder |
| misi | mission | missie |
| mobil | car, automobile | automobiel |
| montir | mechanic | monteur |
| motor | motorcycle | motorfiets |
| nanas | pineapple | ananas (Portuguese: Ananas, origin South America) |
| nomer | number | nummer |
| nol | zero/nil | nul |
| November | November | November |
| Oktober | October | oktober |
| om | uncle | oom |
| oma | grandma | oma |
| omzet/omset | revenue | omzet |
| onderdil | components/spare parts | onderdeel |
| ongkos | cost & expenses | onkosten |
| opa | granddad | opa |
| oranye | orange (colour) | oranje |
| orgel | pipe organ | orgel |
| otomatis | automatic | automatisch |
| pabrik | factory | fabriek |
| parkir | parking | parkeer |
| parlemen | parliament | parlement |
| paroki | parish | parochie |
| pas | fit | past (third person singular of "passen") |
| pastor | pastor | pastoor |
| paviliun | pavilion | paviljoen |
| pelopor | frontrunner | voorloper |
| pénsil | pencil | penseel (brush) |
| pensiun | retirement | pensioen |
| perboden | prohibit (mainly used in street signs in Indonesian) | verboden |
| permak | alter, transform | vermaken |
| permisi | excuse me; permission | permissie: permission |
| peron | platform (railway) | perron |
| pers | press | pers |
| persik | peach | perzik |
| persis | precise, exactly the same, look alike | precies |
| persneling | gear | versnelling |
| plafon | ceiling | plafond, from French |
| polisi | police | politie |
| potlot | pencil | potlood |
| potret | portrait | portret |
| preman | gangster | vrijman: freeman; outlaw |
| prestasi | performance | prestatie |
| prinsip | principle | principe |
| proyek | project | project |
| redaksi | editorial office | redactie |
| rékening | account | rekening |
| reklame | advertisement | reclame |
| rem | brake | rem |
| resep | recipe | recept |
| résléting | zipper | ritssluiting |
| resiko | risk | risico |
| rok | skirt | rok |
| rokok | cigarette; smoke | roken: to smoke |
| sakelar | switch | schakelaar |
| saldo | balance | saldo |
| satelit | satellite | satelliet |
| saus | sauce | saus |
| segel | seal | zegel |
| sekop | shovel | schop |
| sekrup | screw | schroef |
| seks | sex | seks |
| seksi | section | sektie |
| selang | water hose | slang |
| sempak | swim briefs | zwempak |
| senewen | jumpy | zenuwachtig |
| September | September | September |
| sepur | train | spoor |
| serius | serious | serieus |
| sertifikat | certificate | certificaat |
| setrika | clothes iron | strijkijzer |
| setrum | current (electricity) | stroom |
| sinterklas | Santa Claus | sinterklaas |
| sipir | warden | cipier |
| sirkulasi | circulation | circulatie |
| solusi | solution | solutie |
| spanduk | commercial or information banner | spandoeken |
| standar | standard | standaard |
| stasiun | train station | station |
| stopkontak | power socket | stopcontact |
| struktur | structure | structuur |
| suster | nun, nurse, sister | zuster |
| tang | pliers | tang |
| tas | bag | tas |
| tégel | floor tile | tegel |
| teh | tea | thee |
| teknologi | technology | technologie |
| telat | late | te laat (too late) |
| telefon | telephone | telefoon |
| televisi | television | televisie |
| tema | theme | thema |
| terompet | trumpet | trompet |
| teori | theory | theorie |
| tinta | ink | tint |
| tomat | tomato | tomaat (Portuguese: tomate, origin Central America) |
| topik | topic | topic |
| toren | tower (usually for water tower in Indonesian) | toren |
| traktir | treat | trakteer |
| tustel | camera tools | toestel: device, appliances |
| variabel | variable | variabel |
| vas | vase | vaas |
| versi | version | versie |
| visi | vision | visie |
| voorijder | outrider | voorrijder |
| vulkan | volcano | vulkaan |
| wastafel | sink | wastafel |
| wol | wool | wol |
| wortel | carrot | wortel |
| yuridis | juridical | juridisch |
| yustisi | judiciary | justitie |
From Greek
| Word | Meaning | Original word |
|---|---|---|
| demokrasi | democracy | demokratia through Dutch: democratie |
| filsafat | philosophy | philasophia, through Arabic: falsafah |
| mitos | myth | mythos, through Portuguese: mitos |
| stadion | stadium | stadion through Dutch: stadion |
From Latin
It is notable that some of the loanwords that exist in both Indonesian and Malaysian languages are different in spelling and pronunciation mainly due to how they derived their origins: Malaysian utilizes words that reflect the English usage (as used by its former colonial power, the British), while Indonesian uses a Latinate form reflected in the Dutch usage (e.g. aktiviti (Malaysian) vs. aktivitas (Indonesian), universiti (Malaysian) vs. universitas (Indonesian)).
| Word | Meaning | Original word |
|---|---|---|
| ad interim | temporarily | ad interim |
| aktifitas | activity | activitas |
| almamater | revered name for one's university | alma mater: wise and nurturing mother |
| fakultas | faculty | facultas |
| forum | forum | forum, through Portuguese: forum |
| humaniora | humanities | humaniora |
| kantata | song | cantata, through Portuguese: cantada |
| kualitas | quality | qualitas |
| nihil | nil, nothing, zero | nihil |
| nota bene | actually, after look carefully, also | nota bene: examine closely |
| oknum | authority figure (police, soldier, prosecutor, judge) that perform unlawful or corrupted deed | ocnum: name personal |
| status | status | status |
| universitas | university | universitas |
From French
| Word | Meaning | Original word |
|---|---|---|
| akur | agree, get along well | accord, through Dutch: akkoord |
| arsip | archives | archives, through Dutch: archief |
| bulat | round | boulette: ball |
| domisili | place of staying | domicile: house |
| garnisun | garrison | garnison, through Dutch: garnisoen |
| intrik | intrigue | intrigue, through Dutch: intrige |
| kado | gift | cadeau, through Dutch: kado/cadeau |
| kampanye | campaign | campagne, through Dutch: campagne |
| karantina | quarantine | quarantine, through Dutch: quarantine |
| karoseri | the body of vehicle, car, coach, or bus | carrosserie, through Dutch: carrosserie |
| klise | cliche | cliché, through Dutch: cliché |
| kudeta | coup | coup d'état |
| legiun | legion | légion, through Dutch: legioen |
| letnan | lieutenant | lieutenant, through Dutch: lieutenant |
| libur | free (not occupied) | libre |
| manuver | maneuver | manœuvre, through Dutch: manoeuvre |
| mayones | mayonnaise | mayonnaise |
| sabotase | sabotage | sabotage, through Dutch: sabotage |
| sepeda | bicycle | vélocipède |
| supir | driver | chauffeur, through Dutch: chauffeur |
| tante | aunt | tante, through Dutch: tante |
| trotoar | sidewalk | trottoir, through Dutch: troittoir (also stoep, pronounced as "stoop") |
From English
Many English words are adopted in Indonesian through globalization, due to this however many Indonesians mistake words that were originally adopted from Dutch with English due to the Germanic traces that exist in the two languages (both are Indo-European Germanic languages from the same branch, the West Germanic).
| Word | Meaning | Original word |
|---|---|---|
| astronot | astronaut | astronaut |
| bisnis | business | business |
| diskon | discount | discount |
| elektronik | electronic | electronic |
| gosip | gossip | gossip |
| isu | issue | issue |
| katering | catering service | catering |
| komputer | computer | computer (Dutch: Computer) |
| komplit | complete | complete (Dutch: Compleet) |
| kondom | condom | condom |
| konter | counter | counter (Germans: konter) |
| modem | modem | modem |
| moderen | modern | modern (Dutch: moderne) |
| partner | partner | partner |
| pilot | pilot | pilot (Dutch: Piloot) |
| ponsel / HP read:Ha-Pé (shortened word from Hand Phone) | cell phone | hand phone (used in Singapore, Malaysia, Philippines, and South Korea) |
| radar | radar | radar |
| roket | rocket | rocket |
| sistem | system | system (Dutch: Systeem) |
| stroberi | strawberry | strawberry |
| target | target | target |
See also
- List of English words of Indonesian origin
- Loan words in Sri Lankan Tamil
- Indonesian history
- Differences between Malay and Indonesian
References
- 1 2 C. D. Grijns et al. (eds). "Loan-words in Indonesian and Malay" (PDF). KITLV. Retrieved 26 August 2012.
- ↑ Nurlela Adan, Ermitati, Rosnida M. Nur (2001). Kamus Bahasa Indonesia-Minangkabau. Jakarta: Balai Pustaka.
- ↑ Ricklefs, M.C. (1991). A History of Modern Indonesia Since c.1300, 2nd Edition. London: MacMillan. p. 26. ISBN 0-333-57689-6.
- ↑ http://www.reference.com/browse/indonesian+language
- 1 2 KOST (UITGAVE, LEVENSONDERHOUD)
Bibliography
- de Vries, Jan W., Grijns, C.D. and Santa Maria, L. 1983 Indonesian : a check-list of words of European origin in Bahasa Indonesia and traditional Malay Leiden : Koninklijk Instituut voor Taal-, Land- en Volkenkunde. ISBN 90-6718-004-1.
- Badudu, J.S; Kamus Kata-kata Serapan Asing Dalam Bahasa Indonesia; Kompas, Jakarta, 2003
External links
- Indonesian Etymology Database
- SEAlang Library Orthography search engine on Loan-Words in Indonesian and Malay