jelai

Malay

Etymology

From Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *zəlay (“a cereal grass, Job’s tears: Coix lachryma-jobi L.”). Doublet of (h)enjelai and menjelai.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /d͡ʒəlai̯/
• Rhymes: -əlai̯, -lai̯, -ai̯

Noun

jelai (Jawi spelling جلاي, plural jelai-jelai, informal 1st possessive jelaiku, 2nd possessive jelaimu, 3rd possessive jelainya)

1. a kind of grain plant; Coix lacryma-jobi
2. a millet, Lepisanthes senegalensis

Related terms

• enjelai

Further reading

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