Malay words of Tamil origin

This article is about Malay words that are derived from Tamil.

Malay words of Tamil origin

kedai - from Tamil kadai meaning shop

Putu ( as in Putu Piring / Putu Mayam) - from Tamil Puttu , a dish made of rice flour and coconut shreds.

Kapal - from Tamil Kappal meaning Ship

Kupang - from Tamil Kuppam meaning a fishing hamlet

Kotak - from Tamil Kottaan or Kottaa meaning a case.

Satay - from Tamil Sathai meaning flesh.

Sarong - from Tamil Saaram or Malayalam Chaaram meaning a waist cloth.

Harimau (Tiger) - from Tamil Arimaa meaning a 'Majestic Lion'

Singa - from Tamil Singam meaning Lion (in turn from Sanskrit Simha)

Perahu - from Tamil Padagu meaning Boat

Taulan - from Tamil Tholan meaning Friend.

Neschaya - from Tamil Nichayam meaning For sure.

Aniyaya - from Tamil Aniyayam meaning Unjust.

nirumala - from tamil nirmala meaning Water girl.

Sama - from Tamil Samam meaning Equal.

Segala - from Tamil Sagalam meaning Everything.

Almari - from Tamil Almari meaning Cupboard.

Mempelam - from Tamil Mamplam meaning A type of fruit.

References

  • de Vries, Jan W., Grijns, C.D. and Santa Maria, L. 1983 Indonesian : a check-list of words of European origin in Indonesian and traditional Malay Leiden : Koninklijk Instituut voor Taal-, Land- en Volkenkunde.Tharuma Prabu-Malaysian Indian ISBN 90-6718-004-1.