wayang
English
Etymology
Transliteration of Javanese ꦮꦪꦁ (wayang, “shadow; imagination”), from Old Javanese wayaṅ. Cognate with Dutch wajang.
Noun
wayang (countable and uncountable, plural wayangs)
- Traditional Indonesian arts performance (shadow puppetry, theatrical, dance, etc.) originating from Java island.
- The most popular form of wayang is ꦮꦪꦁꦏꦸꦭꦶꦠ꧀ (wayang kulit, “leather-based shadow puppetry”) the Javanese shadow puppet made of animal skin. ― (please add an English translation of this usage example)
- A shadow theatre performance, or such performances in general.
Alternative forms
- wajang
Further reading
- “wayang”, in Lexico, Dictionary.com; Oxford University Press, 2019–2022.
Hiligaynon
Noun
wayáng
- open plain, extensive grounds in a broad valley, or the like
Indonesian
![](Images/wiktionary/Ki_Sigit_Ariyanto_Dalang_Wayang_Kulit.jpg.webp)
The dalang play the wayang kulit
Etymology
Borrowed from Javanese ꦮꦪꦁ (wayang, “shadow; imagination”), from Old Javanese wayaṅ. Doublet of bayang.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ˈwa.jaŋ/
- Hyphenation: wa‧yang
Noun
wayang (plural wayang-wayang, first-person possessive wayangku, second-person possessive wayangmu, third-person possessive wayangnya)
- shadow play:
- (Indonesia) traditional arts performance (shadow puppetry, theatrical, dance, etc.) originally from Javanese culture.
- puppet in the shadow play
- the performance of shadow play
- (figurative) puppet (a person, country, etc, controlled by another); overbeared.
- (figurative) synonym of bayang-bayang.
Affixed terms
- diwayangkan
- mewayangkan
- pewayang
- pewayangan
- wayangan
Compounds
- wayang beber
- wayang gambar
- wayang gelap
- wayang gedek
- wayang gedhog
- wayang golek
- wayang kancil
- wayang kelitik
- wayang keroncong
- wayang kerucil
- wayang kulit
- wayang madha
- wayang makao
- wayang mbeling
- wayang menak
- wayang orang a.k.a. wayang wong
- wayang plastik
- wayang potehi
- wayang purwa
- wayang rai wong
- wayang sadat
- wayang sarung tangan
- wayang suket
- wayang suluh
- wayang tavib
- wayang tengul
- wayang titi
- wayang topeng
- wayang ukur
- wayang wahyu
Further reading
- “wayang” in Kamus Besar Bahasa Indonesia, Jakarta: Language Development and Fostering Agency — Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology of the Republic Indonesia, 2016.
Malay
Etymology
Borrowed from Javanese ꦮꦪꦁ (wayang, “shadow; imagination”), from Old Javanese wayaṅ. Doublet of bayang.
Pronunciation
Audio (MY) (file)
Noun
wayang (Jawi spelling وايڠ, plural wayang-wayang, informal 1st possessive wayangku, 2nd possessive wayangmu, 3rd possessive wayangnya)
- shadow play
- shadow theatre performance
- (informal) ellipsis of wayang gambar (“motion picture; movie”).
- Andy ajak kita tengok wayang. ― Andy is inviting us to watch a movie.
Derived terms
- wayang gambar
- panggung wayang gambar
Descendants
- → Min Nan: 花英 (hoa-iaⁿ) (?)
See also
- wayang kulit
- wayang gambar
Further reading
- “wayang” in Pusat Rujukan Persuratan Melayu | Malay Literary Reference Centre, Kuala Lumpur: Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka, 2017.