Borrowed English Words from Malay Quiz

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Perhaps the most famous English word of Malay origin that you might encounter in a zoo is orangutan. In Malay, "orang" means man, whereas "hutan" means jungle. Orangutan, therefore, literally means "man of the jungle". The name of which of the following animals is NOT derived from the Malay language?

Answer: Kiwi

The word "kiwi", which means "of imitative origin", is of Maori origin. The kiwi is a species of flightless bird, found in New Zealand.

The babirusa, a pig-like mammal, is native to Sulawesi, Indonesia. The word "babi" means pig, whereas "rusa" means deer. The species is also known as deer-pig.

The pangolin, or scaly anteater, is derived from the Malay word "pengguling". The suffix "pen-" means "someone/somebody who", whereas the verb "guling" means "to roll up".

The dugong is a species of marine mammal. Together with three other species of manatees, they form the Sirenia order, commonly known as sea-cows.

2. This jelly-like substance, extracted from red algae, is a popular ingredient in desserts. It has also been used to culture microorganisms in Petri dishes. What is the English word of Malay origin that is being described?

Answer: Agar

The word "agar" is borrowed from the Malay word "agar-agar", which is the name given to red algae.

Nutrients are often added to agar in agar plates, or Petri dishes, to culture microorganisms.

3. The durian is a thorny fruit native to Malaysia and Indonesia. In Malay, "duri" means "thorn". One person might find the smell of the durian fruit to be pleasantly sweet, while the other might find it to be totally unbearable. The name of which of the following fruits is NOT derived from the Malay language?

Answer: Apple

The rambutan is a hairy lychee-like fruit native to Indonesia. In the Malay language, the word "rambut" means "hair".

The fruit langsat is also known as duku in the Malay language.

Cempedak, also spelled chempedak, is a species of fruit that belongs to the same genus as jackfruit. The fruit is native to Southeast Asia. Fried cempedak is a very popular delicacy in Malaysia.

4. This English word, of Malay origin, is usually used in a phrase together with the word running or gone. It refers to a situation (sometimes armed and/or dangerous) that has gone beyond control. Which of the following words best fits the description?

Answer: Amok

The verb "amuk" has been changed to "amok" in the English language. In Malay folklore, the adjective "mengamuk" refers to someone who has gone crazy. A typical situation would be the case where a person runs towards a crowd in a village with a machete in his hand. In Malay, the word "mengamuk" could also mean "to throw a tantrum".

5. This percussion instrument is featured prominently in the traditional Malay ensemble music performance of gamelan. Which onomatopoeic musical instrument, whose name is of Malay origin, is being described?

Answer: Gong

The three most common classes of gong are suspended, bossed/nipple, and bowl. The traditional ensemble music performance of gamelan is popular in both Indonesia and Malaysia.

The thapon is a type of Thai traditional drum. The bongo and conga drums, on the other hand, are of Afro-Cuban origin.

6. This species of climbing palm is used extensively in furniture production, especially chairs. In addition, the balls used in sepak takraw (kick volleyball) are made of this plant species. What is the borrowed English word of Malay origin that is being described?

Answer: Rattan

The word rattan is derived from the Malay word "rotan". Rattan chairs can be seen in traditional Malay houses in Malaysia.

In Malay, the verb "sepak" means "to kick". Sepak takraw, or kick volleyball, is a popular sport in Southeast Asia. The sport was first contested in the Asian Games in 1990, held in Beijing, China.

7. This agricultural-related term is of Malay origin. It refers to fields of arable lands that are used for plantation purpose, notably rice. Which of the following words best fits the description?

Answer: Paddy

A caddy is a small container that is used to store tea. The word "caddy" is borrowed from the Malay word, "kati", which has a similar pronunciation.

Paddy fields are common sights in rural areas of Malaysia. Rice is the staple food for most Asian countries. The word "paddy" is borrowed from the Malay word "padi".

8. Indigenous martial arts are still commonly practised in the Malay archipelago, which includes Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Singapore. Which of the following martial arts, whose word is of Malay origin, fits the description?

Answer: Silat

The sport version of silat, called "pencak silat", was first contested in the Southeast Asian Games in 1987, held in Jakarta, Indonesia.

Karate is a Japanese martial art. Muay Thai (Thai boxing) and Muay Lao are different variants of traditional martial arts practised in, as the names suggest, Thailand and Laos, respectively.

Wushu refers to the collection of various Chinese martial arts. In the Chinese language, "wu" means "martial", whereas "shu" means "technique".

9. A symbol of majesty and power, this dagger-like item is also part of the royal regalia for the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, the head of state of Malaysia. What is the word, of Malay origin, that is being described?

Answer: Keris

Keris, which is spelled kris in Indonesia, is a weapon used in the silat martial art. The regalia of Malaysia include the royal headdress (Tengkolok Diraja), the royal attire (Muskat), the royal buckle, and the royal blade (keris).

Dirks, of Scottish origin, are dagger-like weapons used during the Age of Sail (1571-1862). Billaios, or belawas, are shortswords used in Somalia. Parazoniums are long daggers featured in the Roman mythology.

10. In English, the word "compound", borrowed from the Malay language, refers to an enclosed or fenced area with buildings and residents in it. The Malay equivalent of this word, is commonly featured in the names of villages, in Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore. What is the Malay word that is being described?

Answer: Kampung

In Malay, the words "taman" and "jalan" mean garden and road, respectively.

"Kampung" is sometimes spelled "kampong" in Brunei, Indonesia, and Singapore. Dubbed as 'Venice of the East', Kampong Ayer (water village) is a settlement area located in the capital of Brunei, Bandar Seri Begawan.

Source: Author Matthew_07

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor looney_tunes before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.

In the 15th century, the Malay language was upheld as the lingua franca of Maritime Southeast Asia. The interaction between European and native traders, as well as British colonization in the region, has led to the adoption of Malay words in English.

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