Pelajar
/pəˈlajar/noun
An Indonesian and Malay word meaning a student or learner.
Did you know?In Malay and Indonesian, *pelajar* is built from the root *ajar* (“to teach/instruct”), so the word literally points to someone in the process of being taught, not just someone enrolled in school.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Malayo-Polynesian
PMP
*ajar
“to teach, instruct”
Old Malay
OM
ajar
“to teach or instruct”
Malay
Malay
belajar
“to learn; study”
Malay/Indonesian
Malay/Indonesian
pelajar
“a learner; student”
Modern English
English
pelajar
“a student or learner in Malay and Indonesian usage”