cawéné

Sundanese

Etymology

Possibly from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *babinahi (“woman; female”). Ultimately from the root Proto-Austronesian *bahi (“woman; female”)

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /t͡ʃaˈwene/

Noun

cawéné

1. maiden (female virgin)

   Synonym: parawan

   Geus teu ilahar ayeuna mah nyebut cawéné ka parawan téh.

   It's now uncommon to call the term maiden to a bachelorette.

Derived terms

• cumawéné (“(of a palm tree) ready to be tapped”)
• nyawénéan (“to take the virginity of”)

References

• Coolsma, S (1913) Soendaneesch-Hollandsch Woordenboek (in Dutch), Leiden: A.W. Sijthoff's Uitgeversmaatschappij
• Maman Sumantri, et al. (1985) Kamus Sunda-Indonesia [Sundanese-Indonesian Dictionary] (in Indonesian), Jakarta: Agency for Language Development and Cultivation – Department of Education and Culture of the Republic of Indonesia