benua

Indonesian

Etymology

From Malay benua, from Proto-Malayic *bənua, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *banua, from Proto-Austronesian *banua. Doublet of wanua.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [bəˈnua̯]
• Hyphenation: bê‧nua

Noun

bênua (plural, first-person possessive benuaku, second-person possessive benuamu, third-person possessive benuanya)

1. (geography) continent

   Synonym: kontinen

2. (archaic) land, country

   Synonyms: kerajaan, negeri

Further reading

• “benua” in Kamus Besar Bahasa Indonesia (KBBI) Daring, Jakarta: Badan Pengembangan dan Pembinaan Bahasa, Kementerian Pendidikan dan Kebudayaan Republik Indonesia, 2016.

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Malay

Etymology

First attested in the Kedukan Bukit inscription, 683AD. From Proto-Malayic *bənua, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *banua, from Proto-Austronesian *banua.

Pronunciation

• (Johor-Selangor) IPA^(key): /bənuə/
• (Riau-Lingga) IPA^(key): /bənua/
• Rhymes: -uə, -wə, -ə

Noun

benua (Jawi spelling بنوا‎, plural benua-benua, informal 1st possessive benuaku, impolite 2nd possessive benuamu, 3rd possessive benuanya)

1. continent (each of main land-masses on earth's surface)
2. (classic) land, country

Descendants

• Indonesian: benua

Further reading

• “benua” in Pusat Rujukan Persuratan Melayu | Malay Literary Reference Centre, Kuala Lumpur: Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka, 2017.