orang utan
/ˌoraŋ ˈutan/
The English phrase 'orangutan' is translated into Indonesian as orang utan. If unsure, use orang utan. Wiktionary also lists mawas.
Meaning: arboreal anthropoid ape (noun)
Ways to say it
| Indonesian | IPA |
|---|---|
| orang utan | /ˌoraŋ ˈutan/ (Standard Indonesian) |
| mawas | /ˈmawas/ (Standard Indonesian) |
The term refers to an arboreal anthropoid ape.
What does it mean word for word?
The term orang utan is a compound of orang, meaning person and utan (a variant of hutan), meaning forest.
Which one should you use?
While orang utan is the common term, mawas is a more specific or older term used to refer to the same animal.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In the Sumatran dialect, the term mawas is used to refer to orangutans.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˌoraŋ ˈutan/
Did you know?
- The root of orang originates from a Proto-Malayo-Polynesian word meaning 'outsider'.
- The term orang has a mysterious secondary function as a conjunction in Indonesian, a development that scholars still cannot fully explain.
- The Indonesian word orang is used to mean both 'person' and 'people'.
Examples in context
- Saya sangat terkesan melihat orangutan di Taman Nasional Gunung Leuser.I am deeply impressed by the orangutan I saw in Gunung Leuser National Park.
- Aku ingin melihat mawas di hutan Sumatra.I want to see an orangutan in the forests of Sumatra.
- Ada seekor orang utan di pohon itu.There is an orangutan in that tree.
- Orang utan itu sedang makan buah.That orangutan is eating fruit.
- Saya ingin melihat orang utan di hutan.I want to see an orangutan in the forest.
Example conversation
Adi and Indah are visiting a wildlife sanctuary.
- AdiLihat, ada orang utan di atas sana!Look, there is an orangutan up there!
- IndahWah, orang utan itu sangat besar ya.Wow, that orangutan is very big, isn't it?
- AdiIya, dia terlihat sangat tenang.Yes, he looks very calm.
- IndahDia sedang beristirahat di dahan pohon.She is resting on a tree branch.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “orangutan” translations and entries orang utan, mawas, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries mawas, orang, orang utan, CC BY-SA 4.0.
