Friday, February 15, 2008

Same Words... Different Meanings (Update)

I did a little asking around with some of my Peninsula friends and a Sarawakian colleague.

One friend from Johor said "pantat" also means buttocks there. But then again, another friend from Johor said she always understood it to mean a woman's genitalia.

A Kelantanese friend said in that state, pantat also refers to the "bottom", not of a person, but of a wok or a pot.

Another friend from Selangor said that was so up north but around KL, it really does refer to a woman's poom poom.

My Sarawakian friend confirmed it means intercourse there.

As for the word "kelmarin", my Kelantanese friend pointed out that it also means "yesterday" up north, and that "semalam" is more specific in that it refers to "last night."

That means the "day before yesterday" definition only applies in the central region of the peninsula, and maybe the south too.

:-)

8 comments:

_ said...

In Kelantanese,
" pantat " or like they say it " ppatak " is never taboo.

It never refer to any meaning like other people from other states in Malaysia might think of. You can say it freely in Kelantan without having anyone scolding you ( provided that you say it in Kelantanese ! )

It simply means

" the base of the inner side of any vessel or container "

or to a lesser meaning and usage

" the lowest part of something "

Example of usage :

" Hok aloh laa, budu tinggaa ppatak botol doh, takdok sapo perghasae "

( Oh dear, there's nothing much left in the Budu bottle, just a few drops at the base. Nobody noticed ! )


" Laa weh, tok ingat kor gulaa, kerghing pah ppatak puyok doh ! "

( Darn, I forgot my broth on the stove ! Now there's nothing left except few spoonfuls sticking on the lowest part of the pot ! )

" Enjin bot aku duk ppatak sungaa lonih, nok gi ngail guano ? "

( How can I go fishing if my boat's engine is now lying on the bottom of the river ? )


And as for " Kelmarin " ( say : Kemargheing ) and " Semalam " ( say : Semalae ), yes, I confirm and clarify that.

If a Kelantanese speaker wishes to refer to the "day before yesterday", he or she would say " Kelmarin Dulu " and the listener would get the meaning immediately, as " Kelmarin Dulu " simply means, " the yesterday that came first before yesterday " !

Interesting isn't it ?

About the Gobuk said...

Thanks for clarification! I take it you're Kelantanese? (or is it Kelantanian?)

MsFigure said...

It's interesting how some words could mean differently from one state to another. However, it's good to know as we learn each other's understanding...so we won't get smack in the face for saying something usual to us, but unusual to others.

The Sabahan, I love your blog so much.

Cheers!

About the Gobuk said...

just trying my best to do my bit, msfigure... just trying...

thanks for the support!

Lorraine said...

Thanks for sharing this :).Your blog is so awesome.Can i link ur blog to mine?

About the Gobuk said...

Sure thing Lorraine. My pleasure..

Haizum said...

Oh yes. The word "pantat" does prove to be a problem doesn't it?

It's such an innocent word back home in Sabah, that we're saying it left and right, but it's so taboo here in K. *sigh*

About the Gobuk said...

Oh yea... like you wouldn't believe it. Actually a friend of mine from Kelantan actually told me about a word (or phrase) that's pretty innocent outside of Kelantan, but when used (or misused) in Kelantan, you can get a tight slap in the face... but I forgot what it was. Hahah! :-p