Sentinelese

English

Etymology

From Sentinel +‎ -ese.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˌsɛntɪnəˈliːz/
• Rhymes: -iːz

Noun

Sentinelese (plural Sentineleses or Sentinelese)

1. (chiefly in the plural) A member of an indigenous people of the Andaman Islands, in the Bay of Bengal. They inhabit North Sentinel Island.

Usage notes

As with other terms for people formed with -ese, the countable singular noun in reference to a person (as in "I am a Sentinelese", "writing about Sentinelese cuisine as a Sentinelese") is uncommon and often taken as incorrect. In its place, the adjective is used, by itself (as in "I am Sentinelese") or before a noun like person, man, or woman ("writing about Sentinelese cuisine as a Sentinelese person"). See also -ish, which is similarly only used primarily as an adjective or as a plural noun.

Translations

inhabitant of North Sentinel Island

• Tamil: சென்டினல் மகன் m (ceṉṭiṉal makaṉ), சென்டினல் மகள் f (ceṉṭiṉal makaḷ), சென்டினல் மக்கள் n (ceṉṭiṉal makkaḷ)

Proper noun

Sentinelese

1. The language of these people, unknown but presumed to belong to one of the Andamanese language families.