Indonesia is one of the relatively large country in the world. There are around seventeen thousands islands in Indonesia, from Sabang until Merauke. This wide area and the island location allows Indonesia to has many residents that come from different tribes.
Sometimes each tribe have their own traditional language. One of the largest Indonesian tribes in population is Sundanese. They usually come from western part of Java island. Sundanese people can be easily found in Bandung, Bogor, Tangerang, Indramayu, and so on.
We mentioned Sundanese people because the word that will be discussed in this article is “neng”. This article will explain the details about “neng” meaning in Indonesia. This word come from Sundanese language and usually spoken by Sundanese people in Indonesia.
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Neng Meaning in Indonesia
Neng is usually used in Sundanese area to call younger girl. Back then, this word is used to call younger girls that have respectable parents. Nowadays, the word neng is used to call any younger girl, or every girl that looked young enough based on our own opinion. This word came from Sundanese word. However, other Indonesian people that come from different tribes are usually also know this word and sometimes using it in daily conversations.
Neng: Girl, young lady, miss in informal way
We can use this word to call young girl that we already know. However, this word will be very useful for us to call unknown girl. For example, girls that we see on the street, strangers, and so on.
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How to Pronounce Neng Like Indonesian People
Pronouncing the word “neng” is not difficult. The word is spoken similar with the way it written. The “eng” in “neng” is pronounced similar with “eng” in “length”.
Examples of Using Neng in Indonesian Daily Conversation
Below are several examples of using neng in Indonesian daily conversation:
- Permisi neng, mau pesan makan apa?
Excuse me young lady, what do you want to order?
- Neng, tolong ambilkan pisau di sebelah sana.
Young lady, please help to hand me the knife over there.
- Terima kasih ya neng.
Thank you, young lady.
Other possible meanings of “neng” in Indonesia in informal ways
Besides for calling young girl in Sundanese, the word “neng” in Indonesia can also has other possible meanings. Below are several examples of the possible meanings:
- The word “neng” to say “stupid”
Neng can also be used to call other people “stupid”. This is because there was a character in popular Indonesian comedy series, Bajaj Bajuri named oneng. Oneng was a silly and stupid character. As a result, people use “oneng” or “neng” to say stupid to other people.
For example:
Masa hal mudah begini aja kamu gak bisa, neng.
Why couldn’t you finish this easy task, stupid.
- The word “neng” to imitate sound from musical instruments
Neng can also be used to imitate sound from musical instruments, usually from Indonesian traditional musical instruments. For example sound that come from gamelan.
“nang ning nung neng nong.”
That’s all about “neng” meaning in Indonesia. Thank you for reading.