Musi, also known as Palembang Malay, Basa Pelembang Sari-sari and Sekayu, is a Malayan language spoken by about 3 million residents of Palembang metropolitan area (the capital of South Sumatra, Indonesia) and the surrounding area. In recent times, the Palembang Malay language has become a lingua franca in South Sumatra province, although South Sumatra also has other regional languages and dialects. Palembang is highly influenced by Javanese, because the first speakers came from Demak, Central Java in the 18th century.
Vocabulary
Comparison with Standard Malay
Palembang |
Standard Malay / Indonesian |
English |
apo |
apa |
what |
dio |
dia |
he/she |
mato |
mata |
eye |
kecik |
kecil |
small |
besak |
besar |
big |
embek/ambik |
ambil |
take |
telok |
telur |
egg |
ikok |
ekor |
tail |
anget |
hangat |
warm |
lengen |
lengan |
arm |
ngenjuk |
hunjuk / unjuk |
give |
idak |
tidak |
no |
ari |
hari |
day |
jiron |
jiran |
neighbor |
Words of Javanese origin
Palembang |
Javanese |
Standard Malay / Indonesian |
English |
wong |
wong |
orang |
people |
melok |
mèlu |
ikut |
follow |
dewek |
dhéwé |
sendiri |
alone |
lawang |
lawang |
pintu |
door |
lanang |
lanang |
lelaki |
male |
selawe |
salawé |
dua puluh lima |
twenty five |
jero |
jero |
dalam |
inside |
iwak |
iwak |
ikan |
fish |
banyu |
banyu |
air |
water |
dulur |
dulur |
saudara |
siblings, relatives |
metu |
metu |
keluar |
go out |
abang |
abang |
merah |
red |
Original words (unknown source)
Palembang |
Standard Malay / Indonesian |
English |
pacak |
bisa, boleh |
can |
pecak, cak |
macam, seperti |
looks like |
galak |
mahu, mau |
want to |
parak |
dekat |
near, close |
katek |
tidak ada |
none, nothing |
kagek |
nanti |
later |
kanji |
genit |
vain |
tujah |
tikam |
stab someone |
singit |
sembunyi |
hide |
alep |
cantik |
beautiful |
baseng |
terserah |
up to you |
campak |
jatuh |
fall |
lokak |
peluang |
opportunity |
berejo |
berusaha |
to make effort |
Sample text
Universal Declaration of Human Rights
This is Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (Ujian Sedunio Hak-Hak Manusio)
“ |
Galo-galo uwong metu ke dunio bebas, ngan kehormatan dan hak-hak yang samo pulo. Galo-galonyo la dienjuk akal utak jugo raso ati, kendaknyo tu gawe sesamo laennyo pecak wong seduluran. |
” |
“ |
All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.[3] |
” |