timpuh

Malay

Etymology

From Proto-Malayic *timpuh, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *timpux (“to sit with legs folded under”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /tim.poh/
• Rhymes: -poh, -oh
• Hyphenation: tim‧puh

Noun

timpuh (plural timpuh-timpuh or timpuh²)

1. A formal sitting posture on the floor where both legs are folded underneath the body, often tucked to one side.

   Coordinate terms: duduk timpuh; to sit in a polite, formal manner (for women)

Usage notes

• This posture is traditionally considered polite and graceful, and is typically associated with women, in contrast to the cross-legged sila posture for men.
• The verb form bertimpuh is more commonly used to describe the action of sitting in this way.

Derived terms

• bertimpuh

See also

• sila

Further reading

• "timpuh" in Pusat Rujukan Persuratan Melayu (PRPM) [Malay Literary Reference Centre (PRPM)] (in Malay), Kuala Lumpur: Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka, 2017