mala-

See also: Appendix:Variations of "mala"

Indonesian

Alternative forms

• mal- (nonstandard)

Etymology

From Malay mala-, from Old Javanese mala-, from Sanskrit मल (mala, “dirt, filth, impurity”), from Proto-Indo-European *melh₂- (“black”). Doublet of mala.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [mala]
• Hyphenation: ma‧la

Prefix

mala-

1. mal-: bad, abnormal

Derived terms

Indonesian terms prefixed with mala-

malaformasi

malakarsa

malanutritisi

malanutrisi

malapetaka

malapraktik

Further reading

• “mala-”, in Kamus Besar Bahasa Indonesia [Great Dictionary of the Indonesian Language] (in Indonesian), Jakarta: Agency for Language Development and Cultivation – Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology of the Republic of Indonesia, 2016

Tagalog

Pronunciation

• (Standard Tagalog) IPA^(key): /maˈla/ [mɐˈla]
• Syllabification: ma‧la-

Prefix

malá- (Baybayin spelling ᜋᜎ)

1. form terms denoting something resemblance or likeness of one's characteristics; -oid; -like

   ‎mala- + ‎buntala (“planet, comet”) → ‎malabuntala (“planetoid”)

   ‎mala- + ‎tingga (“lead”) → ‎malatingga (“plumbaceous, leadlike, lead-colored”)

   ‎mala- + ‎ita (“Aeta”) → ‎malaita (“dark, dusk”)

Derived terms

Tagalog terms prefixed with mala-

malaanonang

malaayta

malabiga

malabuhok

malabuntala

malaragat

malaruhat

malagata

malagatas

malahagunot

malahukuman

malaita

malakarit

malakawayan

malakeso

malakristal

malapatinig

malatala

malatibig

malatingga

malatubig

Further reading

• “mala-”, in KWF Diksiyonaryo ng Wikang Filipino, Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino, 2025
• “mala-”, in Pambansang Diksiyonaryo | Diksiyonaryo.ph, 2018