Sabahan

Sabahan is a demonym for residents or natives of Sabah, a Malaysian state on the island of Borneo. The term denotes regional identity and is used in everyday speech, media, and official contexts to refer to people from Sabah.

Sabah's population is ethnically diverse, including the Kadazan-Dusun, Bajau, and Murut communities, as well as Malays, Chinese, and other groups. This diversity shapes local customs, languages, and cuisines.

The dominant language in daily life is Malay; in Sabah a local variant known as Sabahan Malay is used, alongside many indigenous languages such as Kadazan, Dusun, Bajau, and Murut languages. English is also widely understood.

Culturally, Sabahan communities maintain distinct traditions, while sharing regional practices. The Kadazan-Dusun harvest festival Kaamatan is a major cultural event; religious diversity includes Islam, Christianity, Buddhism, and Hinduism among Sabah's residents.

Historically, Sabah was known as North Borneo under British protection before joining Malaysia in 1963, contributing to a distinct Sabah identity that persists in the term Sabahan.