Macanese edit

Etymology edit

Apparently from Malay pala-pala (out and out),[1] although reason for nasalization is unclear. Possibly influenced by Malay palang (cross shape), where old windows and shutters used in Macau and/or the movement of arms when opening two windows simultaneously may have given the impression of a cross shape.

Pronunciation edit

  • IPA(key): /paˈɫaŋ paˈɫaŋ/

Adverb edit

palám-palám

  1. completely, fully[2]
    abrí janela palám-palámopen the window(s) completely

References edit

  1. ^ Batalha, Graciete Nogueira (1988) “palã-palã”, in Glossário do dialecto macaense: notas linguísticas, etnográficas e folclóricas [Glossary of the Macanese dialect: linguistic, ethnographic and folkloric notes], Macau: Instituto Cultural de Macau, page 503
  2. ^ https://www.macaneselibrary.org/pub/english/uipatua.htm