Kamis

Kamis is the Indonesian word for Thursday, the fifth day of the week in many Western calendars. It is used in Indonesia and other parts of Southeast Asia where Indonesian or Malay is spoken to designate the day in calendars, schedules, and everyday language. In Indonesian writing, the term is treated as a proper noun for the day and is typically capitalized.

Etymology and cognates: The word Kamis derives from the Arabic al-khamis, meaning “the fifth.” The root and meaning reflect the historic influence of Islam and Arabic on the naming of days in the region. In Malay, the corresponding term is typically Khamis, which shares the same etymology but follows Malay orthographic conventions.

Usage and context: Phrases such as hari Kamis or Kamis depan (Thursday, next Thursday) are common in Indonesian. The term is used across formal and informal contexts, including media, education, and personal communication. In calendar practice, Kamis marks a weekday rather than a weekend day in most Indonesian contexts.

Variations and regional notes: While Indonesian commonly uses Kamis for Thursday, Malay-speaking communities generally use Khamis. Both forms reflect the same linguistic root, but spelling and pronunciation differ by language and region. Days of the week in both languages are typically treated as proper nouns and are capitalized in standard writing.