Ayas
An expression that people in Malang usually use in daily communication to call our him/her self.
Language & Expressions
NounOpen entry →
Searchable corpus
Culture-specific expressions
Terms, definitions, context, variants, usage examples, and references from diverse East Javanese cultural communities.
Boso Walikan
A language variety based on reversing sounds or word forms, developed as a marker of community identity in Malang.
Language & Expressions
Noun · 1 mediaOpen entry →
Boso Walikan Malangan
The reversed speech of Malang: everyday words spelled backwards and spoken as ordinary vocabulary. It began as a code among fighters in the revolution and became a mark of belonging…
Language & Expressions
NounOpen entry →
Cak
A familiar form of address for men, especially in Arekan cultural settings.
Language & Expressions
Term of Address · 1 mediaOpen entry →
Kera Ngalam
A person of Malang: literally "Malang youngster", from arek, "child" or "youngster", reversed. Used as a claim of belonging rather than as a description of age.
Language & Expressions
PhraseOpen entry →
Nawak
A friend, from kawan reversed. Often extended to nawak ewed, "our own friend", for someone inside the circle.
Language & Expressions
NounOpen entry →
Ngalam
Malang, the city, with its letters reversed. The most widely used word of the reversed speech, and the one outsiders learn first.
Language & Expressions
NounOpen entry →
Ojob
A spouse or partner, from bojo reversed.
Language & Expressions
NounOpen entry →
Oyi
Yes; agreement, from iyo reversed. Carries an easy, informal warmth.
Language & Expressions
ExpressionOpen entry →
Pandalungan
A hybrid cultural identity formed through encounters between Javanese and Madurese communities in the Tapal Kuda region.
Language & Expressions
Noun · 1 mediaOpen entry →
Sam
A form of address for a man, from mas reversed. Familiar, and not restricted to older men the way its source word is.
Language & Expressions
Term of AddressOpen entry →
Tata Krama
A system of etiquette, unggah-ungguh, and social behaviour emphasizing respect and social harmony.
Language & Expressions
Noun · 1 mediaOpen entry →
Umak
The second person pronoun, from kamu reversed.
Language & Expressions
NounOpen entry →