In Betawi culture, there are many unique terms used to refer to family members. One well-known term for grandfather is "engkong" (ng-kong). Interestingly, this term was adopted from Hokkien, indicating the influence of Chinese culture on Betawi society.
1) Photo by Arif Wibowo on Flickr App 2) Photo by Ibenk.88 on Istock
The Betawi kinship system tends to be patrilineal, meaning that descent is traced through the father's side. Within this system, there are many distinctive terms used in everyday life, including:
- Nya
This is the Betawi term for mother. Betawi children, both boys and girls, call their mothers "Nyak." This term is derived from the shortened word "Enyak." - Abah
This term of address is also used for fathers, but is more common among Islamic boarding school students (santri). The word "Abah" comes from Arabic, reflecting the strong influence of Islam in Betawi culture. - Babe
This is the most common term for father. It's sometimes shortened to "Be." Both boys and girls use this term to refer to their fathers. - Engkong
A term for grandfather. As mentioned earlier, this term is derived from Chinese, reflecting the cultural blend that shapes Betawi identity. - Sumpe
This term is used to refer to great-grandparents, both male and female. Although rarely used today, this word remains a rich part of the Betawi language. - Nyaik or Nyai
Used to refer to grandmothers. It can also be used as a form of respect for older women. - Mpok
A term of address for an older sister. However, in everyday conversation, this term can also be used to address older women, even if they aren't siblings. - Abang
Used to refer to an older brother. Like "Mpok," this term is also often used to refer to men older than the speaker.
Photo by Jeffry SS on Pexels
Overall, the kinship terms in Betawi culture not only reflect the social structure and family relationships, but also show the influence of various foreign cultures such as Arabic, Chinese, and Malay which have merged into the distinctive Betawi identity to this day.
Written by Noverdy R
Referensi:
Setianti, Eni, dkk. Ensiklopedia Jakarta: Jakarta Tempo Doeloe, Kini, & Esok. Jakarta: PT Lentera Abadi, 2009.
