Nyonya

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Malay / baba malay:

nyonya

expand for details Detailed etymology

definitions

noun

  1. a female Peranakan or descendant of Peranakans

    2. However, neither rain nor shine, nor lack of pocket money could keep the Nyonyas and Bibiks from this game. If their sourve of income was cut off, they would simply pawn their jewellwery. Other popular games of the Nyonyas and Bibiks were mahjong and chap ji kee.

    — 2009, Catherine Lim GS. Gateway to Peranakan Culture. Asiapac Books Pte Ltd. ISBN: 9789812299079. p.35

    Mama Chik was another Eurasian lady very fond of cherki. Like many of her race at that time, she was dressed in the Nyonya's baju panjang and looked every bit like one.

    — 2013, William Gwee. Nyonya Mosaic. Marshall Cavendish International (Asia) Private Limited. ISBN: 9789814408400. p.125

  2. honorific term of address for a female Peranakan

    3. synonyms:

    bibik

adjective

  1. of or relating to the Peranakan society, culture, ethnicity, language, etc., particularly (but not necessarily, and often not) its traditionally female-related facets such as the culinary arts

    2. Underneath is the red-tinged nyonya sauce made using five different spices, including ginger flower and lemongrass.

    — 2016 March 26, Low Shi Ping. Today, "Brazenly delish offerings". p.21


usage notes

Female equivalent of Baba. Often used as a synonym or synecdoche for Peranakan.


related:

Peranakan chap cheng chap cheng kia orang cina bukan cina cik

categories:

terms of address cultural

entries starting with

'nyonya'