/id/Source Language: The language or dialect this term originates from (ID).
Indonesian•1 meaning found
1
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neutralTone: neutral. Indicates the emotional nuance or social context of the word.Old Indonesian / MalayTopic: Old Indonesian / Malay. The category or sphere of life where this word is used.
nationalRegion: national. Specifies the geographical origin or local dialect area.
Verified
A person on the ibahasa team has reviewed and approved this definition. Entries still awaiting review are marked as such, and their meanings are withheld.
Definition & Context
Worker; a person who performs labor or works for an employer, especially during the Dutch colonial period in the East Indies.
Synonyms & Variants
buruh
buruh
A person who works for another person for wages; a laborer.
Synonym
jongos
jongos
A male servant (especially in a restaurant or hotel); a male domestic helper.
Archaic
karyawan
karyawan
A person who works for an institution (office, company, etc.) and receives a salary (wage).
Register Variant
kuli
kuli
A manual laborer who relies on physical strength, often with daily wages.
Social Variant
pekerja
pekerja
A person who performs a job or activity to earn income; a laborer.
Synonym
Usage Notes or Etymology
The term 'pekerdja' is the Van Ophuijsen spelling of the modern word 'pekerja' (worker). It frequently appears in colonial documents, Dutch East Indies newspapers, and classical Malay literature to refer to laborers, artisans, or employees in various economic sectors of that era.
Real-world Usage
Para pekerdja itu bekerja di perkebunan dari pagi hingga sore. (Para pekerja itu bekerja di perkebunan dari pagi hingga sore.)
Representative of real-world usage and contextual accuracy.