Keling

See also: keling

English

Alternative forms

• Kling

Etymology

From Malay Keling, from Sanskrit कलिंग (kaliṃga), a historical region of India.

Noun

Keling (plural Kelings)

1. (now offensive, ethnic slur, derogatory, Malaysia) a person of Indian descent

Synonyms

• apu nene (similar slur in Malaysia and Singapore)
• k-word (euphemism)

Malay

Etymology

Derived from Sanskrit कलिङ्ग (kaliṅga), a historical region of India.

Pronunciation

• (Johor-Selangor) IPA^(key): /kəleŋ/
• (Riau-Lingga) IPA^(key): /kəlɪŋ/
• Rhymes: -əleŋ, -leŋ, -eŋ
• Rhymes: -iŋ

Noun

Keling (Jawi spelling کليڠ)

1. (literary, dated) Kling, a name applied to all immigrants from the Coromandel coast (but sometimes limited to Muslim immigrants from that coast, the others being called orang Hindu).
2. (now offensive, ethnic slur, derogatory) a person of Indian descent.
3. (dialectal, Kedah, Penang) a Muslim of Indian descent.

Synonyms

• orang India (more appropriate)

Descendants

• Indonesian: Keling
• → English: Keling
• → Min Nan: 吉靈／吉灵 (kiat-lêng)
• → Semai: Keléng