dalih

Indonesian

Etymology

Inherited from Malay dalih, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *dalih (“be the reason for an action”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [ˈda.lɪh]
• Hyphenation: da‧lih

Noun

dalih

1. pretext

   Pungutan itu dilakukan dengan dalih untuk dana kesejahteraan

   The levy was carried out under the pretext of welfare funds

2. excuse, quibble

Derived terms

• berdalih
• berdalih-dalih
• mendalih
• mendalihkan

 

Further reading

• “dalih” in Kamus Besar Bahasa Indonesia, Jakarta: Agency for Language Development and Cultivation – Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology of the Republic of Indonesia, 2016.

Malay

Etymology

From Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *dalih (“be the reason for an action”).

Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -eh

Noun

dalih (Jawi spelling داليه, plural dalih-dalih, informal 1st possessive dalihku, 2nd possessive dalihmu, 3rd possessive dalihnya)

1. pretext
2. excuse, quibble

Derived terms

Affixed terms and other derivations

Regular affixed derivations:

• pendalih [agentive / qualitative / instrumental / abstract / measure] (peN-)
• mendalih [agent focus] (meN-)
• mendalihkan [agent focus + causative benefactive] (meN- + -kan)
• berdalih [stative / habitual] (beR-)

Further reading

• “dalih” in Pusat Rujukan Persuratan Melayu | Malay Literary Reference Centre, Kuala Lumpur: Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka, 2017.