Masih

Masih is a term with multiple meanings across languages and cultures. In Malay and Indonesian, masih is a common adverb meaning still, yet, or remaining, used to indicate that a state or condition continues, as in saya masih di rumah (I am still at home).

The word has a broader linguistic and religious resonance through its origin in Arabic al-Masih, meaning “the Messiah.” In Islamic theology, al-Masih refers to Jesus (Isa) as the Messiah, a title that appears in the Qur’an and in religious discourse. In Malay- and Indonesian-language Christian usage, Masih can appear in reference to Christ or in the form of names that echo the religious term, with variations in how it is transliterated or combined with other words.

As an onomastic element, Masih is used as a surname in South Asia and among diaspora communities, particularly among Christian populations where the term reflects religious heritage. It can also function as a given name in some contexts. The surname or given-name usage of Masih often indicates historical or cultural ties to Christian communities rather than a direct linguistic meaning in everyday speech.

In contemporary usage, mas isla remains a plain Indonesian/Malay word meaning “still” or “yet” in ordinary sentences, while al-Masih continues to appear in religious texts and discussions across Arabic-speaking and Muslim-majority contexts. The term thus spans everyday language, theology, and personal naming traditions.