Balinese
/ˌbɑː.liˈniːz/noun
Relating to Bali, its people, culture, or language.
Did you know?Although Bali is famous for elaborate Hindu offerings, the island’s name is only sometimes linked to Sanskrit bali, meaning “offering” or “tribute”; scholars treat that connection as uncertain rather than proven.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient period
Sanskrit
bali
“Offering, tribute, or sacrificial gift; sometimes proposed as a possible source of Bali, though the connection is uncertain.”
Old Javanese
Old Javanese
Bali
“The name of the island of Bali in early Javanese literary and inscriptional traditions.”
Middle Ages
Malay/Javanese
Bali
“The established geographic name for the island and its polity in regional usage.”
Middle English
English
-ese
“A suffix used for words meaning “from” or “belonging to” a place, ultimately related to Latin -ensis through French.”
19th Century
English
Balinese
“An English adjective and noun referring to Bali, its inhabitants, or their culture.”
Modern English
English
Balinese
“Relating to Bali, especially its people, language, arts, religion, or traditions.”
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