Toeloeng
Definition & Context
Verb
A word used to describe an action, state, or occurrence.
Archaic spelling of tolong, meaning to ask for or render “assistance” to another person; Commonly found in colonial-era Malay and Indonesian texts.
Synonyms & Variants
bantu
To provide support or assistance to someone or something.
bantuan
Help or support provided
pertolongan
The act or deed of helping; assistance.
tolong
To ask for or provide help to others; used in the context of assistance or request.
tulung
Non-standard spelling or dialectal variant of 'tolong', often found in daily conversation or non-formal texts.
Usage Notes or Etymology
The word toeloeng is the Van Ophuijsen orthographic representation of the Malay and early Indonesian word tolong, meaning “help” or “to assist”. The Van Ophuijsen spelling system, officially introduced in 1901 under Dutch colonial administration, rendered the vowel sound /u/ as the digraph “oe”, following Dutch orthographic conventions. This form was widely used in colonial newspapers, official correspondence, and Low Malay literature until the early 20th century. Following Indonesian independence, it was superseded by the Republican Spelling (1947) and later the Perfected Spelling system (EYD, 1972), standardizing the form to the modern tolong.
Real-world Usage
Waktoe ia maoe toeloeng anak lain, hatinja terasa senang. (Ketika ia mau menolong anak lain, hatinya terasa senang.)
English Translation
Representative of real-world usage and contextual accuracy.
Verified Evidence1
Boekoe Soerat-Soerat (TH. A. Du Mosch) Boekoe Soerat-Soerat (TH. A. Du Mosch)
ImageliteratureVerify Context
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