pokok

See also: pókok

Indonesian

Etymology

From Malay pokok, from Classical Malay pokok.

Pronunciation

• (Standard Indonesian) IPA^(key): /ˈpokoʔ/ [ˈpo.kɔʔ]
• Rhymes: -okoʔ
• Syllabification: po‧kok

Noun

pokok (plural pokok-pokok)

1. tree

   Synonym: pohon

2. stem

   Synonym: batang

3. capital, stake

   Synonym: modal

4. buying price
5. cause

   Synonyms: lantaran, sebab

6. base, essential, principal, basic, fundamental

   Synonyms: asas, dasar, inti sari

   pangan pokok ― staple food

7. center, centre

   Synonym: pusat

8. depend

   Synonyms: tergantung, terserah

9. importance (something of)

Usage notes

The word is part of false friends between Standard Malay and Indonesian due to shared etymology. The Brunei, Malaysia and Singapore usage can be seen in Malay pokok.

Derived terms

• berpokok
• memokoki
• memokokkan

• pokok angin
• pokok hujan
• pokok hukum
• pokok kalimat
• pokok kayu
• pokok masalah
• pokok pangkal
• pokok pekerjaan
• pokok pencarian
• pokok penghidupan
• pokok ribut
• pokok sialang
• pokok tentara

Adjective

pokok (generally not comparable, comparative lebih pokok, superlative paling pokok)

1. primary (main; principal; placed ahead of others)

Further reading

• “pokok”, 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

Malay

Etymology

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

Pronunciation

• (Literary Standard) IPA^(key): /ˈpokok/ [ˈpo.koʔ]
• Rhymes: -okokʔ, -koʔ, -oʔ

• Audio (Malaysia):

  (file)

Noun

pokok (Jawi spelling ڤوکوق, plural pokok-pokok or pokok²)

1. tree (large woody plant)
2. (generally) term for all kind of plant

   pokok keladi dan pokok bunga ― taro plant and flower plant

3. capital, stake
4. cause of something

   pokok pangkal ― important cause

5. (figuratively) base, essential, basic
6. something important

   perkara pokok ― important thing

Usage notes

The word is part of false friends between Standard Malay and Indonesian due to shared etymology. The Indonesia usage can be seen in Indonesian pokok.

Synonyms

• (tree): pohon
• (plant): tumbuhan
• (stake): modal
• (base): dasar, asas

Further reading

• "pokok" in Pusat Rujukan Persuratan Melayu (PRPM) [Malay Literary Reference Centre (PRPM)] (in Malay), Kuala Lumpur: Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka, 2017