[The Face of Dutch]

Malay Words in Dutch

This page is just a collection of Malay words that I often heard as a child. My mother grew up in the Dutch Indies (now Indonesia) before WWII, and she would still use a few Malay words in conversation. In general Dutch there are a few words of Malay, mostly for food; most Malay words have disappeared from Dutch with the passing of that colonial generation. How I say the words will probably not be exactly like native speakers of Malay speak.
Maybe in modern Indonesian Malay (officially: Bahasa Indonesia) the spelling is no longer like Dutch but as in English, like in Malaysia, kechang instead of katjang, satay instead of saté (small pieces of meat on wooden skewers, barbecued.)
The Malay word toko click to hear ('shop, grocery') specifically means 'Asian grocery' in Dutch.

* - Malay words still common in Dutch (I think)

pisang * click to hear banana
nasi goreng * click to hear fried rice
bami goreng * click to hear 2 fried noodles
saté * click to hear satay
kroepoek * click to hear shrimp crackers (large)
taugé * click to hear (mung) bean sprouts
katjang click to hear peanut
djeroek click to hear lemon, citrus
ketimoen click to hear cucumber
sambal * click to hear ground hot peppers (sauce/paste)
pedis click to hear hot, spicy
ketjap * click to hear soy sauce
manis click to hear sweet
asin click to hear salty
ketjil click to hear small
besar click to hear 2 big
djintan click to hear cumin
ketoembar click to hear coriander
djahé click to hear ground ginger
trassie click to hear smelly dried fish paste
babi click to hear pork
pangang click to hear roasted
ikan click to hear fish
ajam click to hear chicken
kambing click to hear goat
kantjil click to hear (mythical) miniature deer
toko * click to hear shop, grocery
pasar click to hear market
wadjang click to hear wok
kassian click to hear [expression of pity]
tabé * click to hear bye-bye
orang-oetang * click to hear orangutang >>
batik * click to hear batik (fabric dyeing technique)
[fired rice]
nasi goreng click to hear (with green beans)		 Rijsttafel click to hear (rice-table) is the Dutch name for an elaborate Indonesian meal of rice with lots of small side dishes.

Hebrew Words in Dutch

Dutch Food - Dutch Meals - The Dutch Kitchen

email - Copyright © Marco Schuffelen 2009. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, redistributed, or hotlinked to. Don't be a dief (thief) / dievegge (female thief) - diefstal (theft) - stelen (to steal) - heler (dealer in stolen goods) - hear Dutch - 2

[banana]
pisang click to hear		 [statuette] [small ivory bowls] bracelet] [lizard]
tietjak click to hear 2