Ta'aruf
/ˌtɑː.əˈruːf/noun
An Indonesian and Malay term, also used in English contexts, for mutual introduction or acquaintance, especially in a culturally or religiously guided courtship.
Did you know?Ta'aruf comes from the same Arabic root associated with knowing and recognition, and it appears in the Qur’anic phrase describing peoples and tribes as created so they may know one another.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Semitic
Proto-Semitic
ʿ-r-f
“A root associated with knowing, recognizing, or becoming acquainted with”
Classical Arabic
Arabic
ʿarafa
“He knew, recognized, or came to know”
Classical Arabic
Arabic
taʿāruf
“Mutual knowing, becoming acquainted, or recognition of one another”
7th Century
Qur'anic Arabic
li-taʿārafū
“So that you may know one another; a form appearing in Qur'an 49:13”
20th Century
Indonesian/Malay
ta'aruf
“A formal or religiously guided introduction, often for marriage”
Modern English
English
ta'aruf / taʿāruf
“A culturally specific term for mutual acquaintance or courtship-oriented introduction”