Etymology Explorer › Malay

Where does “nyonya” come from?

nyonya (Malay) comes from Portuguese dona, from Old Portuguese dona, from Late Latin domna, from Latin domina, from Latin Dominus, from Latin domus, from Proto-Italic domos, from Proto-Indo-European dṓm — to build; to arrange, to put together.

nyonya (Malay): A Nyonya; a female Peranakan; wife

Definitions

  1. A Nyonya; a female Peranakan; wife

Ancestry of “nyonya”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Portuguesedonafemale equivalent of dono; A title of address to...
2Old Portuguesedona—
3Late Latindomnalady, mistress
4Latindominalady or mistress of the house
5LatinDominusthe Lord; Lord; The Lord
6Latindomushouse, home; any building or abode; native place,...
7Proto-Italicdomoshouse, home
8Proto-Indo-Europeandṓmhome; house
9Proto-Indo-Europeandem-to build; to arrange, to put together

Words derived from “nyonya”

  • 娘惹
  • nyonya
  • nhonha
Every word from Proto-Indo-European dem- →