kerajaaan

Kerajaan is the Malay and Indonesian term for a kingdom or the realm ruled by a monarch. It denotes both the political institution of monarchy and the territory it governs, typically under a king (raja) or sultan. In standard Malay and Indonesian orthography, the word is kerajaan; the variant kerajaaan is not the conventional spelling and may result from typographical error or stylistic choice.

Etymology and meaning: The word combines the prefix ke- with raja (king) and the suffix -an to form an abstract noun meaning “the realm of kingship.” It is used to describe a monarchic state as well as the institution of monarchy itself.

Historical and regional use: Across Southeast Asia, many polities described in local languages as kerajaans were powerful medieval and early modern states. Examples include Kerajaan Melaka (the Malacca Sultanate) and the Brunei Sultanate, as well as various Malay and Indonesian kingdoms such as Kedah, Perak, Kelantan, Terengganu, and Pahang. The term frequently appears in historical records, royal genealogies, and place names.

Modern usage: In Indonesia, kerajaan often refers to traditional or ceremonial kingdoms and cultural entities rather than current sovereign states. In Malaysia and Brunei, royal houses continue as sultanates or similar monarchies, with constitutional roles or more centralized authority depending on the country. More broadly, kerajaan can also denote the government or administration of a state when used in formal language, as in phrases describing the national government.

See also: Monarchy, Sultanate, Kingdom, Malay world.