kunyit (Indonesian)
Where does "kunyit" come from?
The Indonesian word "kunyit," meaning turmeric, traces its roots back to the Proto-Malayo-Polynesian term *kunij. Over time, it passed through Classical Malay before evolving into its current form. The word remains linguistically connected to "kuning," the Indonesian word for yellow, reflecting the vibrant color characteristic of the spice.
Full etymology tree
- kunyit (Indonesian), 'turmeric'
- inherited kunyit (Malay), 'turmeric'
- inherited kunyit (Classical Malay)
- inherited *kunij (Proto-Malayo-Polynesian), 'turmeric, Curcuma longa'
- inherited kunyit (Classical Malay)
- inherited kunyit (Malay), 'turmeric'
Ancestors
- kunyit (Malay)
- *kunij (Proto-Malayo-Polynesian)
Cognates and doublets
- kuning (Indonesian)
Updated June 2026
Etymology data from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 · About Miraris