kelawar
/kəˈlawar/
The Malay word for bat is kelawar.
The term refers to a small flying mammal.
Meaning: small flying mammal (noun)
How do you pronounce it?
/kəˈlawar/
Did you know?
- The word kelawar is a shortened form of kelelawar caused by haplology, which is when a speaker accidentally drops one of two similar sounds.
- In many parts of the Malay-speaking world, the kelawar is a vital ecological hero, acting as a primary pollinator for various tropical fruits.
- The Malay language often uses the same word kelawar for both the small insectivorous bats and the much larger fruit bats.
Examples in context
- Saya melihat seekor kelawar di kebun semalam.I saw a bat in the garden yesterday.
- Jangan tangkap kalong itu, biarkan dia terbang bebas.Don't catch that bat, let it fly freely.
- Ada kelawar di dalam gua itu.There is a bat in that cave.
- Kelawar biasanya keluar pada waktu malam.Bats usually come out at night.
- Saya nampak kelawar terbang tinggi.I saw a bat flying high.
Example conversation
Siti and Ahmad are walking near a dark forest at night.
- SitiTengok, ada kelawar di atas pokok itu!Look, there is a bat on that tree!
- AhmadWah, besarnya kelawar itu, Siti.Wow, that bat is huge, Siti.
- SitiJangan risau, dia tidak akan kacau kita.Don't worry, it won't bother us.
- AhmadBaiklah, mari kita jalan terus.Alright, let's keep walking.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “bat” translations and entries kelawar, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries kelawar, CC BY-SA 4.0.
