Saturday, August 06, 2005

WORDS

This is a list of some words used in The Dutch East Indies, which you may have heard growing up. Mind you, I'm just an American so welcome any comments for refinement if the interpretation is a bit off.

aduh!: wow! oh boy! yikes!
babu: female domestic servant, like a nannie
betjak: bicycle taxi
blandas: whites (Caucasian)
KNIL: D. Koninklijk Nederlands Indisch Leger - Royal Dutch Indies Army
kokki: female servant, the cook
oom: uncle
oma: grandmother
opa: grandfather
pemudas: Indonesian nationalist fighters usually young men
tante: aunt

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

You can also add to the list:

jaga:
gardener/night watchman.

cicak:
a gekko that makes chirping sounds.

tokay:
larger than a cicak, this wall-climbing lizard looks like a miniature alligator.