tiba-tiba

Indonesian

Alternative forms

Etymology

Reduplication of tiba (to arrive).

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ti.baˈti.ba/
  • Rhymes: -iba, -ba, -a
  • Hyphenation: ti‧ba‧ti‧ba

Adverb

tiba-tiba

  1. suddenly (happening quickly and with little or no warning; in a sudden manner)

Malay

Alternative forms

Etymology

Reduplication of tiba (to arrive).

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /tibatiba/
    • (Johor-Riau) IPA(key): [ti.bə.ti.bə]
      • Audio (Malaysia):(file)
    • (Baku, Northern Peninsular Malay) IPA(key): [ti.ba.ti.ba]
  • Rhymes: -ba, -a
  • Hyphenation: ti‧ba‧ti‧ba

Adverb

tiba-tiba (Jawi spelling تيبا٢)

  1. In a sudden manner; suddenly, abruptly.
    Synonym: sekonyong-konyong
    Adam tiba-tiba berbahasa Jepun di telefonnya.
    Adam suddenly spoke Japanese on his telephone.

Further reading