pahlawan

Indonesian

Etymology

From Malay pahlawan, from Classical Malay pahlawan, from Persian پهلوان (pahlavân, “hero, paladin”), ultimately from Old Persian 𐎱𐎼𐎰𐎺 (p-r-θ-v /⁠Parθavaʰ⁠/, “Parthia”).

Pronunciation

• (Standard Indonesian) IPA^(key): /pahˈlawan/ [pahˈla.wan]
• Rhymes: -awan
• Syllabification: pah‧la‧wan

Noun

pahlawan (plural pahlawan-pahlawan or para pahlawan)

1. hero, patriot, a strong and brave warrior

   Synonym: wira

   Antonym: penjahat

Derived terms

• antipahlawan (“antihero”)
• kepahlawanan (“heroism”)

• pahlawan bakiak
• pahlawan devisa
• pahlawan kemerdekaan (“national hero”)
• pahlawan kesiangan
• pahlawan nasional
• pahlawan perempuan
• pahlawan revolusi
• pahlawan super
• pahlawan tanpa tanda jasa

Further reading

• “pahlawan” in Kamus Besar Bahasa Indonesia, Jakarta: Agency for Language Development and Cultivation – Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology of the Republic of Indonesia, 2016.

Malay

Etymology

From Persian پهلوان (pahlavân, “hero, paladin”), ultimately from Old Persian 𐎱𐎼𐎰𐎺 (p-r-θ-v /⁠Parθavaʰ⁠/, “Parthia”).

Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -wan

Noun

pahlawan (Jawi spelling ڤهلاون, plural pahlawan-pahlawan)

1. hero, patriot, a strong and brave warrior

   Synonym: wira

Descendants

• > Indonesian: pahlawan (inherited)

Further reading

• “pahlawan” in Pusat Rujukan Persuratan Melayu | Malay Literary Reference Centre, Kuala Lumpur: Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka, 2017.