Make no mistake, not all foreign words come from English
PEKALONGAN PORTAL – In the era of the internet and social media, many people assume that almost all modern-sounding foreign words must come from English.
However, in reality this is not always the case.
Indonesia has a long history with the Netherlands for more than 350 years. As a result, thousands of Dutch vocabulary words entered Indonesian and are still used today.
What is interesting is that some modern people often think that some of these words come from English because they sound “western” or are very familiar to the ear.
Even though the root of the word actually comes from Dutch.
Why Do So Many People Get It Wrong?
There are several reasons why these words are often ascribed to English:
- Both use Latin letters.
- The pronunciation sounds modern.
- It has long been used in the world of education and government.
- The younger generation is more familiar with English than Dutch.
As a result, many people do not realize that a number of everyday vocabulary words are actually a legacy of Dutch colonialism.
30 words that are often mistaken for English even though they are originally Dutch
1. Office
Dutch language: Office
Many people think it comes from the word “office”, but it’s not.
2. Police
Dutch language: Politie
Used since colonial rule.
3. Towel
Dutch language: Handdoek
Literally means cloth for hands.
4. Refrigerator
Dutch language: Koelkast
That means refrigerator.
5. Zipper
Dutch language: Ritssluiting
One of the words most often used by Indonesian people.
6. Jack
Dutch language: Dommekracht
Mandatory equipment in the automotive world.
7. Stun
Dutch language: Stroom
Originally meant electric current.
8. Ashtray
Dutch language: Ashtray
Almost no change in shape.
9. Stove
Dutch language: Komfoor
Still used in almost every home.
10. Bon
Dutch language: Bon
Used in transactions and administration.
11. Note
Dutch language: Note
Still commonly used in the business world.
12. Tickets
Dutch language: Tickets
Even though it is similar to English, this word also came in through Dutch influence.
13. Cinema
Dutch language: Cinema
14. Exhaust
Dutch language: Exhaust
A very popular term in the automotive world.
15. Brakes
Dutch language: Brake
Still in use today.
16. Driver
Dutch language: Chauffeur
Originally comes from French, but entered Indonesia via the Netherlands.
17. Machine
Dutch language: Machine
18. Closet
Dutch language: Cupboard
19. Courses
Dutch language: Courses
20. Pharmacy
Dutch language: Apotheek
21. Doctor
Dutch language: Doctor
22. Banks
Dutch language: Bank
23. Taxes
Dutch language: Pacht
Experienced quite a change in pronunciation.
24. Shovel
Dutch language: Schep
25. Tank
Dutch language: Tank
26. Safe
Dutch language: Brandkast
Literally means fireproof cupboard.
27. Money Orders
Dutch language: Wissell
28. Stamp
Dutch language: Stamp
29. Balcony
Dutch language: Balcony
30. Pump
Dutch language: Pomp
It is still used in various fields, from agriculture to industry.
The Automotive World Keeps Most of the Dutch Heritage
If you pay attention, the Indonesian automotive world is full of Dutch loanwords.
For example:
- brake,
- exhaust,
- stun,
- jack,
- tank,
- pump.
This happened because motorized vehicles became widely known in Indonesia during the Dutch colonial period.
As a result, the technical terms used at that time continue to persist today.
English is dominant, but Dutch is still alive in everyday life
Even though English is now an international language, traces of Dutch are still very strong in the lives of Indonesian people.
Starting from household matters, education, health, government, to automotive matters, a lot of Dutch vocabulary has survived and is used across generations.
In fact, most people don’t realize that these words don’t come from English.
Conclusion
Many words that are often thought to come from English actually have Dutch roots. Indonesia’s long history with the Netherlands has meant that thousands of vocabulary words have been absorbed and become an inseparable part of modern Indonesian.
Words such as office, police, towel, refrigerator, zipper, and even exhaust are clear examples that language is not just a means of communication, but also a trace of history that continues to live on in everyday life.
So, the next time you use the words “office” or “refrigerator”, you are actually saying the Dutch language heritage that has survived for more than a century in Indonesia.***
