Where does “balai raya” come from?

balai raya (Malay) comes from Malay balai, from Proto-Malayic balay, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian balay, from Proto-Austronesian balay — house; hall.

balai raya (Malay): community centre building of community centre

Definitions

  1. community centre building of community centre

Ancestry of “balai raya”, step by step

balai raya traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via Malay balai

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Malaybalaihall, station, large building for public uses;...
2Proto-Malayicbalayhouse; hall
3Proto-Malayo-Polynesianbalayhouse; hall
4Proto-Austronesianbalayhouse; hall

via Malay raya

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Malayrayagreat, big; big; grand
2Proto-Malayicrayabig, large
3Proto-Malayo-Polynesianʀayabig, large
4Proto-Austronesianʀayabig, large
Every word from Proto-Austronesian balay →
balai raya — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer