10 Foreign Words you thought were Melanau (Loanwords)

Loanwords are words adopted by the speakers of one language from a different language (the source language).This are just a few "borrowed" words and phrases which are commonly used in modern melanau. 1. Omo- a washing powder. Comes from an english brand of washing powder OMO- On my own. Omo, Unilever’s international-brand washing powder. Omo is a blue detergent powder launched in 1954, and became the Unilever spearhead in the synthetic detergent market.
2. Merait- comes from the word "right". To "right" means to tick or to correct an exam paper.

 

 3. Wap- a wharf



 4. Gab- to be fashionable. Comes from the english word "garb"- fashion
 5. Diek- from the english word "deck"

 

6.  Ingsil- a "Hinge"- a jointed or flexible device on which a door, lid, or other swinging part turns. from malay word "Engsel".



7.  Segerit- Comes from the word "cigarette".



8. Bicin-a brand of MSG Ve-Tsin



9. Setukin- comes form the noun "stocking"- a usually knit close-fitting covering for the foot and leg



10.  Rutik paun- a normal sandwich bread. During the Brooke era 1 batch of roti paun used weighs 1 pound.

By: Learn Melanau On 1:31 PM

Continue Reading

Teluwaih Jinih- The Melanau girls, the belles of borneo

Melanau praises when seeing a beautiful lady goes:

Kejinih ji jawai a teluwaih yen, lah tipa musit matalau! 

What a beautiful lady. Just like ray of sunshine!

Such claim may have held some truth. Rajah James Brooke had a liking for melanau girls for their fair complexion and dark open eye of the italians. He said that they had 'agreeable countenances, with the dark, rolling, open eye of the italians, and nearly as fair as most of that race.

All photos by Chabien aka. McKibben Agin

By: Learn Melanau On 10:25 AM

Continue Reading

Selamet Lau Ma!- happy father's day!

to all learn melanau fans :

By: Learn Melanau On 10:45 PM

Continue Reading