surau

English

Etymology

From Malay surau, possibly from Sanskrit सुरौकस् (suraukas, “abode of the gods”).

Noun

surau (plural suraus)

1. (Islam) A small mosque or other Islamic assembly building in parts of Sumatra and the Malay peninsula.
   • 2015, Eka Kurniawan, translated by Labodalih Sembiring, Man Tiger, Verso, page 2:

     He knew the sound so well he didn't bother to turn his head. It was even more familiar than the sound of the surau’s drum that beat five times a day.

2. (Islam, Malaysia) A small room in any public place where Muslims pray.

   The men's surau can be found at the left of the clock store.

Synonyms

• musalla (a room where Muslims pray, aside from a mosque)
• prayer room

Indonesian

Etymology

From Malay surau, possibly from Sanskrit सुरौकस् (suraukas, “abode of the gods”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [ˈsurau̯]
• Hyphenation: su‧rau

Noun

surau (uncountable)

1. (Islam) surau: a small mosque or other Islamic assembly building in parts of Sumatra and the Malay peninsula.

   Synonyms: langgar, tajuk

Further reading

• “surau” 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

Possibly from Sanskrit सुरौकस् (suraukas, “abode of the gods”).

Noun

surau (Jawi spelling سوراو, informal 1st possessive surauku, 2nd possessive suraumu, 3rd possessive suraunya)

1. (Islam) surau: a small mosque or other Islamic assembly building in parts of Sumatra and the Malay peninsula.
2. (Islam): a small room in any public building where Muslims pray.
   • Surau tersebut terletak dekat bilik matematik.

     The surau is located near the mathematics classroom.

Descendants

• Indonesian: surau
• → English: surau
• → Thai: สุเหร่า (sù-rào)
• → Pattani Malay: سوغا / ซูรฺา

Further reading

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