Njai
/id/Source Language: The language or dialect this term originates from (ID).Definition & Context
NounNoun
A word that functions as the name of a specific object or set of objects, such as living creatures, places, actions, qualities, states of existence, or ideas.
A term for an indigenous woman who served as a “concubine” or unofficial wife to European men or indigenous nobility during the Dutch East Indies colonial era.
Synonyms & Variants
gundik
The standard equivalent in modern Indonesian
perempuan simpanan
A modern descriptive term
selir
Usually used in palace or feudal contexts
moeder
Often used by Indo children to call their njai mothers
Usage Notes or Etymology
The word originates from the Balinese nyai or Sundanese nyai, which were originally respectful honorifics for women. However, during the colonial period, the meaning shifted to refer specifically to the practice of concubinage. In the Van Ophuijsen spelling, it is written as njai. In the Soewandi spelling, this word changed to nyai. Despite its dark historical connotations, the term frequently appears in classical Indonesian literature.
Real-world Usage
Kisah tjinta seorang menir dengan njai-nja. (Kisah cinta seorang tuan Belanda dengan gundiknya.)
English Translation
Representative of real-world usage and contextual accuracy.