gombal

Indonesian

Etymology

From Javanese gombal (“rag”).

Hypothetically second sense related to wordplay English "love" and Indonesian "lap".

Pronunciation

• (Standard Indonesian) IPA^(key): /ˈɡombal/ [ˈɡom.bal]
• Rhymes: -ombal
• Syllabification: gom‧bal

Noun

gombal (plural gombal-gombal)

1. A piece of old cloth, especially one used for cleaning; a tattered piece of cloth; rag.

   Synonym: lap

2. (colloquial) lie

   Synonyms: bohong, omong kosong

   rayuan gombal ― (please add an English translation of this usage example)

3. (colloquial) to pick up (seduce)

Further reading

• “gombal” 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.