Bahasa Indonesia’s Indian Connection
Indonesia as country has seen it being influenced by many religions, races and countries. History shows us that connection with India, Holland, China, Australia and Arab countries. This inter-cultural exchange has had a great impact on Bahasa – the national language of Indonesia, which has borrowed many words into its language from Arabic, Hindi, Sanskrit, Tamil, Chinese, Japanese, Dutch, Portuguese and the many Austronesian languages.
I knew about this even before I came to Indonesia, but my cousin wanted me to note down all the various Indian (Sanskrit, Hindi, Tamil, Urdu) words that I came across in my 2 months here in Indonesia. Today, Islam is a major religion of Indonesia, but once upon a time, it used to be Hinduism and hence Sanskrit (Samsakrutha in Bahasa) has had a great impact in today’s Bahasa. The name Bahasa in itself comes from the Indian word Bhasha, meaning language.
Below is a list of words that I have come across in Bahasa Indonesia with their meanings and related Indian word. I hope all the Indian readers will find this Indian connection very interesting. The thing to note is that some Indian words have also been borrowed from Arabic. Hence, the words that I might categorize as Indian can have an Arabic root. Many Hindi and Tamil words might have an original root in Sanskrit.
I am sure there are many other words in Bahasa Indonesia with a similar Indian connection. Either I have not come across those words or haven’t been able to connect the dots.
If you are more keen on finding the connection, you can start with this wikipedia article and then the rest of the internet.
I knew about this even before I came to Indonesia, but my cousin wanted me to note down all the various Indian (Sanskrit, Hindi, Tamil, Urdu) words that I came across in my 2 months here in Indonesia. Today, Islam is a major religion of Indonesia, but once upon a time, it used to be Hinduism and hence Sanskrit (Samsakrutha in Bahasa) has had a great impact in today’s Bahasa. The name Bahasa in itself comes from the Indian word Bhasha, meaning language.
Below is a list of words that I have come across in Bahasa Indonesia with their meanings and related Indian word. I hope all the Indian readers will find this Indian connection very interesting. The thing to note is that some Indian words have also been borrowed from Arabic. Hence, the words that I might categorize as Indian can have an Arabic root. Many Hindi and Tamil words might have an original root in Sanskrit.
| Word in Bahasa | Meaning in Bahasa | Original Indian Word | Indian Language |
| Bahasa | Language | Bhasha | Hindi |
| Utara | North | Uttar | Hindi |
| Asli | Original, Pure | Asli | Hindi |
| Masjid | Mosque | Masjid | Hindi |
| Apam | Kind of cake | Apam | Tamil |
| Kapal | Boat/Ship | Kappal | Tamil |
| Kuil | Temple | Koil | Tamil |
| Mangga | Mango | Manga | Tamil |
| Roti | Bread | Rotti | Tamil |
| Topi | Hat | Topi/Toppi | Hindi/Tamil |
| Yudha | War, Battle | Yuddha | Sanskrit |
| Warna | Colour | varna | Sanskrit |
| Warta | News | varta | Sanskrit |
| Akhir | End | Akhir | Urdu |
| Badan | Body | Badan | Hindi |
| Dunia | World | Dunia | Hindi |
| Fakir | Poor People | Fakir | Hindi/Urdu |
| Hewan | Animal | Haywan | Hindi |
| Halal | Religiously Lawful | Halal | Hindi |
| Haram | Religiously Unlawful | Haraam | Hindi |
| Jahanam | Cursed, Damned | Jahannam – hell | Hindi |
| Jail | Prank | Jahil – Ignorant | Hindi |
| Kitab | Book | Kitab | Hindi |
| Korban | sacrifice | Qurban | Hindi/Urdu |
| Kursi | Chair | Kursi | Hindi |
| Maaf | Sorry, to apologize | Maafi | Hindi |
| Maksud | Purpose | Maqsood | Hindi/Urdu |
| Maut | Death | Maut | Hindi |
| Menara | Tower | Minar | Hindi |
| Mungkin | Maybe | Mungkin | Hindi |
| Musim | season | Mausam | Hindi |
| Nikah | Marriage | Nikah | Urdu |
| Sabar | Patience | Sabarr | Hindi |
| Sabun | Soap | Sabun | Hindi |
| Sehat | Healthy | Sehat, - health | Hindi |
| Selamat | Safe, Well being | Salamat | Hindi |
| Waktu | Time | Wakt | Hindi |
| Anggur | Grapes | Angur | Hindi |
| Pahlawan | Hero | Pehalwan, - strong person | Hindi |
| Pasar | Market/Bazaar | Bazaar | Hindi |
| Piala | Cup | Pyala | Hindi |
| Medan | Field | Maidan | Hindi |
| Takhta | Throne | Takht | Hindi |
| Kedai | Food Stall | Kadai | Tamil |
| Agama | Religion | Agama – Vedic principles | Sanskrit |
| Aneka | Multifarious | Anek | Hindi |
| Anggota | Limb | Angh | Hindi |
| Angkara | Insolence | Aham Kara – Ego, prideta | Sanskrit, Tamil |
| Angka | Numerical Figure | Anka | Sanskrit |
| Angkasa | Sky | Akash | Hindi |
| Alpa | Negligent | Alpa | Sanskrit, Tamil |
| Antara | Among, in Between | Antar | Hindi |
| Anugerah | Honour, Award | Anugraham | Tamil |
| Raja | King | Raja | Hindi |
| Putera | Son | Putirran | Tamil |
| Putri | Daughter | Puttiri | Tamil |
| Bakti | Devotion | Bhakti | Tamil |
| Sakti | Magic | Shakti – Strength | Hindi, Tamil |
| Suami | Husband | Swamy | Tamil |
| Istri | Wife | Istri | Tamil |
| Bumi | Earth | Bhumi | Hindi |
| Jendela | Window | Jannal | Tamil |
| Dua | Two | Do | Hindi |
| Tiga | Three | Teen | Hindi |
| Sastra | Literature | Shastra | Sanskrit |
| Tirai | Curtain | Tirai | Tamil |
| Sate | Satay | Catai | Tamil |
| Kolam | Pond | Kulam | Tamil |
| Kera | Monkey | Korunggu | Tamil |
| Kari | Curry | Kari | Tamil |
| Jaya | Victorious | Jeyam | Tamil |
| Jiwa | Soul | Jeevan | Tamil |
| Ganja | Marijuana | Kanja | Tamil |
| Gajah | Elephant | Gajam | Tamil |
| Dirgahayu | Longevity | Dirgayu | Tamil |
| Desa | Village | Desam | Tamil |
| Derma | Charity | Dharmam | Tamil |
| Denda | Fine | Dhandam | Tamil |
| Catur | Chess | Caturanggam | Tamil |
| Candu | Opium | Candu | Tamil |
| Bayu | Wind | Vayu | Tamil |
| Bahaya | Hazard | Abayam | Tamil |
| Alun | Wave | Alai | Tamil |
| Kamar | Room | Kamra | Hindi |
| Aniaya | Abuse, Injustice | Anyay | Hindi |
| Asrama | Dormitory | Ashram | Hindi |
| Ayah | Father | Ayya | Tamil |
| Bahagia | Lucky, Blessed | Bhagya | Hindi |
| Bahu | Shoulder | Bahu – arms | Sanskrit |
| Barat | West | Bharat, India – located west of Indonesia | Sanskrit |
| Basmi | Destroy | Bhasmam | Tamil |
| Kabar | News | Khabar | Hindi |
| Biasa | Habitual | Abhya sa | Sanskrit |
| Biji | Seed | Bija | Hindi |
| Binasa | Death, destroyed | Vinash | Hindi |
| Bisa | Venom | Vesam | Tamil |
| Bijaksana | Wisdom | Vicakshana | Sanskrit |
| Budiman | Wise | Buddhiman | Hindi |
| Cakra | Disk, Sphere | Chakram | Tamil |
| Candi | Temple | Candika – another manifestation of Durga as goddess of death | Sanskrit |
| Chandra | Moon, Lunar | Chandra – Hindu Moon God | Sanskrit |
| Citra | Image | Chitra | Hindi |
| Dana | Donation, Funds | Dhana | Sanskrit |
| Dasawarsa | Decade | Dasa Varsha | Sanskrit |
| Dewa | God | Deva | Sanskrit |
| Dewi | Goddess | Devi | Sanskrit |
| Duka | Sadness | Dukh | Hindi |
| Gapura | Gate | Gopuram | Tamil |
| Guru | Teacher | Guru | Tamil, Hindi |
| Jelma | Incarnation | Janma – Birth | Sanskrit |
| Karunia | Blessing | Karuna | Sanskrit |
| Keluarga | Family | Kula-varga | Sanskrit |
| Kumba | Pot | Kumbha | Sanskrit |
| Lawang | Cinnamon | Lavanga | Sanskrit |
| Rani | Queen | Rani | Hindi |
| Siswa | College Student | Shishya | Hindi |
| Menteri | Minister | Mantri | Hindi |
| Mitra | Partner | Mitra | Hindi |
| Nama | Name | Naam | Hindi |
| Negara | Country | Nagara | Sanskrit |
| Negeri | City | Negeri | Sanskrit |
| Neraka | Hell | Narakam | Tamil |
| Nirwana | An ideal condition of harmony or joy | Nirvana | Sanskrit |
| Puasa | Fasting | Upawas | Hindi |
| Pustakadi | Book | Pustak | Hindi |
| Rahasia | Secret | Rahasya | Hindi |
| Raksasa | Monster | Rakshsam | Tamil |
| Ratna | Gemstone | Ratnam | Tamil |
| Rupa | Appearance | Roop | Hindi |
| Samudra | Ocean | Samudra | Hindi |
| Sakti | Powerful | Shakti | Hindi |
| Senopati | General, Military Leader | Senapati | Hindi |
| Singa | Lion | Singha | Sanskrit |
| Surya | Sun | Surya | Hindi |
| Suka | Like | Sukh | Hindi |
| Upacara | Ceremony | Uppakara | Sanskrit |
| Wahana | Vehicle | Vahana | Sanskrit |
I am sure there are many other words in Bahasa Indonesia with a similar Indian connection. Either I have not come across those words or haven’t been able to connect the dots.
If you are more keen on finding the connection, you can start with this wikipedia article and then the rest of the internet.
