vegetarian
The Indonesian word for vegetarian is vegetarian.
The English loanword vegetarian is widely understood and used in Indonesia, especially in urban areas and modern contexts, to describe a person who does not eat any animal flesh.
Meaning: person who does not eat any animal flesh (noun)
Which one should you use?
While vegetarian is the standard term, you may encounter vejetarian in informal, phonetic spelling. For a more descriptive formal approach, one can use the phrase Orang yang tidak makan produk hewani, which means a person who doesn't eat animal products.
How does it change in a sentence?
When using the word as a noun to say 'a vegetarian', use the indefinite article seorang before the word, resulting in seorang vegetarian.
Did you know?
- Certain vegetarian traditions in Indonesia, linked to Buddhism, involve avoiding 'pungent' vegetables. This means some may avoid garlic and onions for spiritual reasons, not just animal products.
- The use of vegetarian in urban Indonesia is often a form of 'prestige borrowing'. Using the English loanword can make the speaker sound more international or modern compared to using local descriptions.
- In Indonesian, the word sayur can mean both 'vegetables' and 'vegetable soup'. A vegetarian ordering sayur might be surprised to receive a liquid dish rather than a side of greens.
Examples in context
- Saya tidak makan daging. Saya vegetarian.I don't eat meat. I am vegetarian.This sentence shows how to identify yourself as a vegetarian.Tatoeba #13736256 by HAGNi, translation #13736050 by Adelpa
- Istriku seorang vegetarian.My wife is a vegetarian.This sentence demonstrates how to use vegetarian to describe someone else.Tatoeba #1513419 by menyo, translation #644856 by CK
- Saya seorang vegetarian yang tidak makan daging.I am a vegetarian who doesn't eat meat.
- Aku gak makan daging, aku seorang vegetarian.I don't eat meat, I am a vegetarian.
- Apakah kamu seorang vegetarian?Are you a vegetarian?
Example conversation
Dimas and Sari are choosing a restaurant for dinner.
- DimasApakah Sari seorang vegetarian?Is Sari a vegetarian?
- SariTidak, dia makan daging.No, she eats meat.
- DimasBaguslah kalau begitu.That is good then.
- SariAyo kita makan sate.Let's eat satay.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
