Arakanese
/ˌær.ə.kəˈniːz/noun
Relating to Arakan, especially the Rakhine people or their language in western Myanmar.
Did you know?“Arakanese” is an exonym: the English form ultimately reflects European renderings of the region, while its inhabitants traditionally call themselves Rakhine.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Indo-Aryan period
Sanskrit/Pali
Rakhanga / Rakkhanga
“Early forms traditionally associated with the name of the Arakan region, though the name’s deeper origin remains debated.”
Pre-modern period
Burmese
ရခိုင် (Rakhine)
“The native Burmese name for the Rakhine people and their region.”
16th–17th Century
Portuguese
Arracão / Arrakan
“European maritime spellings for the coastal kingdom and region known locally as Rakhine.”
17th–18th Century
English
Arakan
“The established English exonym for the region on the eastern Bay of Bengal.”
18th–19th Century
English
Arakanese
“Formed from Arakan plus the place-and-affiliation suffix “-ese,” meaning relating to Arakan or its people.”
Modern English
English
Arakanese
“A historical or regional term for the Rakhine people, language, or culture; “Rakhine” is now often preferred.”