Where does “cerita rakyat” come from?

cerita rakyat (Malay) comes from Malay cerita, from Classical Malay cetera, from Pali carita, from Sanskrit चरित — "idem"; course of life.

cerita rakyat (Malay): folktale; folk story

Definitions

  1. folktale; folk story

Ancestry of “cerita rakyat”, step by step

cerita rakyat traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via Malay cerita

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Malayceritastory
2Classical Malayceterastory; parasol; See cerita
3Palicaritapractice; performance; conduct; deed; action;...
4Sanskritचरित"idem"; course of life

via Malay rakyat

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Malayrakyatcitizen, subject; people, populace; folk
2Arabicرَعِيَّةsubject; herd, flock; citizens, flock
Every word from Sanskrit चरित →Every word from Pali carita →Every word from Classical Malay cetera →
cerita rakyat — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer