kereta

From Malay kereta, from Classical Malay كريتا (karĕta), from Portuguese carreta. Compare Tagalog kareta.

• (Standard Indonesian) IPA^(key): /kəˈrɛta/ [kəˈrɛ.t̪a]

• Audio:

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ɛta
• Syllabification: ke‧re‧ta

kêrèta (plural kereta-kereta)

1. ellipsis of kereta api (“train”)
2. (literally) carriage
3. (Deli, Medan) motorcycle

   Synonym: sepeda motor

The common meaning of kereta is train, which came from shortening of phrase kereta api. The meaning of motorcycle is limited in Deli, such as Medan as is in local Malay dialects. This usage has been only started from 1990s, as an attempt by the local youth to not be proud of their own vehicles.^[1]

• “kereta” 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.

From Portuguese carreta. Compare Tagalog kareta.

• (Johor-Riau) IPA^(key): /kəˈretə/ [kəˈre.t̪ə]
  • Rhymes: -etə

• (Baku) IPA^(key): /kəˈreta/ [kəˈre.t̪a]
  • Rhymes: -eta
• Hyphenation: ke‧re‧ta

keréta (Jawi spelling کريتا, plural kereta-kereta)

1. automobile, car, motorcar: A wheeled vehicle that moves independently, with at least three wheels, powered mechanically, steered by a driver and mostly for personal transportation.

   Kereta hitam itu kereta saya.

   That black car is mine.

2. cart, carriage

The meaning of motorcycle is limited to dialects spoken in areas formerly in Deli, such as Medan.

• (automobile): mobil (Indonesia incl. Riau, Sumatra)

• Indonesian: kêrèta
• → Tausug: karita'

• Wilkinson, Richard James (1901) “كريت kereta”, in A Malay-English dictionary (romanised), Hong Kong: Kelly & Walsh limited, page 517
• Wilkinson, Richard James (1932) “kĕreta”, in A Malay-English dictionary (romanised), volume I, Mytilene, Greece: Salavopoulos & Kinderlis, page 572

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