belabela

Ternate

Etymology

Said by Hayami-Allen to be from N- (nominalizer) +‎ fela (“to open”), with reduplication, possibly as that which opens the sky. Likely cognate with Sahu ḇelanga (“lightning”). However, also compare Proto-Trans-New Guinea *(mb,m)elak (“lightning, light”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [ˌbe.laˈbe.la]

Noun

belabela

1. lightning

References

• Rika Hayami-Allen (2001) A descriptive study of the language of Ternate, the northern Moluccas, Indonesia, University of Pittsburgh