Where does “Malesia” come from?

Malesia (Finnish) comes from Malay Malaysia, from English Malaysia, from English Malay, from Malay Melayu, from Malay Malayu, from Old Javanese layū, from Proto-Sunda-Sulawesi lariw, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian laʀiw.

Ancestry of “Malesia”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1MalayMalaysia—
2EnglishMalaysiaThe Malay Archipelago
3EnglishMalayOf or relating to the Malays, a people living in...
4MalayMelayuMalay
5MalayMalayu—
6Old Javaneselayūto run
7Proto-Sunda-Sulawesilariw—
8Proto-Malayo-Polynesianlaʀiw—
9Proto-Austronesianlaʀiw—

Words derived from “Malesia”

Every word from Proto-Austronesian laʀiw →Every word from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian laʀiw →Every word from Proto-Sunda-Sulawesi lariw →
Malesia — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer