Sundanese
/ˌsʌndəˈniːz/noun
Relating to the Sundanese people, language, or cultural region of western Java, Indonesia.
Did you know?The name Sunda is ancient: it appears in early Javanese and Sanskrit-related geographical traditions, but scholars still disagree over whether it originally meant something like “bright,” “pure,” or had another local source.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient period
Sanskrit-related tradition
sunda
“A form associated in historical traditions with the Sunda region; the original meaning is uncertain and should not be confidently translated as “bright” or “pure.””
1st millennium CE
Old Javanese
Sunda
“The name of a polity and region in western Java.”
14th Century
Old Javanese
Sunda
“A major western Javanese kingdom and cultural-geographical designation.”
19th Century
Dutch/English
Soendanees / Sundanese
“A colonial-era adjective and noun referring to the people and language of Sunda.”
Modern English
English
Sundanese
“Relating to western Java, its people, or the Sundanese language.”
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