Hukum
/ˈhʊkəm/noun
An order, command, or authoritative decree, especially in South Asian usage.
Did you know?Hukum ultimately comes from Arabic ḥukm, the same root associated with judgment, wisdom, rulers, and the title hakim—a judge or learned authority.
Etymological Timeline
Classical Arabic
Arabic
ḥukm
“Judgment, decision, command, or authority; from the Semitic root ḥ-k-m, associated with judging and governing.”
Medieval Arabic
Arabic
ḥākim
“A ruler, governor, or judge—literally one who exercises judgment or authority.”
Medieval Persianate usage
Persian/Arabic
ḥukm
“An order, decree, or authoritative command, especially in administrative and royal contexts.”
17th–19th Century
Hindustani
hukm / hukum
“An order, command, or directive in Hindi-Urdu usage; the extra vowel reflects South Asian pronunciation patterns.”
19th Century–Present
English
hukum
“An English loanword, chiefly used in descriptions of South Asian speech, society, or historical administration, meaning an order or command.”