Keling

See also: keling

English

Alternative forms

Kling

Etymology

From Malay Keling, from Sanskrit कलिंग (kaliṃga), a historical region of India.

Noun

Keling (plural Kelings)

(now offensive, ethnic slur, derogatory, Malaysia) a person of Indian descent

Synonyms

apu nene (similar slur in Malaysia and Singapore)
k-word (euphemism)

Malay

Etymology

Derived from Sanskrit कलिङ्ग (kaliṅga), a historical region of India.

Pronunciation

(Johor-Selangor) IPA^(key): /kəleŋ/
(Riau-Lingga) IPA^(key): /kəlɪŋ/
Rhymes: -əleŋ, -leŋ, -eŋ
Rhymes: -iŋ

Noun

Keling (Jawi spelling کليڠ)

(literary, dated) Kling, a name applied to all immigrants from the Coromandel coast (but sometimes limited to Muslim immigrants from that coast, the others being called orang Hindu).[1]
(now offensive, ethnic slur, derogatory) a person of Indian descent.
(dialectal, Kedah, Penang) a Muslim of Indian descent.[2]

Synonyms

orang India (more appropriate)

Descendants

Indonesian: Keling
→ English: Keling
→ Min Nan: 吉靈／吉灵 (kiat-lêng)
→ Semai: Keléng

References

"Kĕling" in A Malay-English Dictionary, Richard James Wilkinson, Kelly & Walsh Limited, 1901-1903, page 526.
“Keling” in Pusat Rujukan Persuratan Melayu | Malay Literary Reference Centre, Kuala Lumpur: Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka, 2017.

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