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
- A Nyonya; a female Peranakan; wife
Ancestry of “nyonya”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Portuguese | dona | female equivalent of dono; A title of address to... |
| 2 | Old Portuguese | dona | — |
| 3 | Late Latin | domna | lady, mistress |
| 4 | Latin | domina | lady or mistress of the house |
| 5 | Latin | Dominus | the Lord; Lord; The Lord |
| 6 | Latin | domus | house, home; any building or abode; native place,... |
| 7 | Proto-Italic | domos | house, home |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | dṓm | home; house |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | dem- | to build; to arrange, to put together |