Where does “Malaysia” come from?

Malaysia (Malay) comes 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, from Proto-Austronesian laʀiw.

Ancestry of “Malaysia”, step by step

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

Words derived from “Malaysia”

Every word from Proto-Austronesian laʀiw →Every word from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian laʀiw →Every word from Proto-Sunda-Sulawesi lariw →