tiba-tiba

Indonesian

Alternative forms

• tetiba

Etymology

Reduplication of tiba (“to arrive”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ti.baˈti.ba/
• Rhymes: -iba, -ba, -a
• Hyphenation: ti‧ba‧ti‧ba

Adverb

tiba-tiba

1. suddenly (happening quickly and with little or no warning; in a sudden manner)

Malay

Alternative forms

• tetiba

Etymology

Reduplication of tiba (“to arrive”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /tibatiba/
  • (Johor-Riau) IPA^(key): [ti.bə.ti.bə]

    • Audio (Malaysia):

      (file)

  • (Baku, Northern Peninsular Malay) IPA^(key): [ti.ba.ti.ba]

    • Audio (Malaysia):

      (file)

• Rhymes: -ba, -a
• Hyphenation: ti‧ba‧ti‧ba

Adverb

tiba-tiba (Jawi spelling تيبا٢)

1. In a sudden manner; suddenly, abruptly.

   Synonym: sekonyong-konyong

   Adam tiba-tiba berbahasa Jepun di telefonnya.

   Adam suddenly spoke Japanese on his telephone.

Further reading

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