khayalan

Khayalan is a noun used in Malay and Indonesian to denote imagination, fantasy, or a daydream. The term derives from the Arabic word khayāl, meaning imagination or image, with the suffix -an forming an abstract noun in the two languages. The root khayal is also found in related words such as khayal (imagination) and khayalistik in extended uses.

In everyday language, khayalan covers both benign and creative uses as well as more speculative ones. It can describe the act of imagining or envisioning possibilities, as in berkhayal (to daydream) or menghayal (to imagine or envision). Khayalan can refer to the content of one’s imagination, such as a fantastical story or dream-like scenario. The phrase khayalan semata typically means “mere fantasy.”

Connotation varies by context. When used about creative thinking, storytelling, or literary imagery, khayalan tends to be neutral or positive. In medical or psychiatric contexts, it can be associated with delusional beliefs or misperceptions, but professional terminology such as halusinasi (hallucination) or delusi is more commonly employed for clinical purposes, while khayalan remains a broader, non-technical term.

Culturally, khayalan is common in Malay- and Indonesian-language literature, film, and everyday speech as a device to evoke imagination, dream sequences, or otherworldly atmospheres. It sits alongside other concepts of imagination rooted in Arabic linguistic influence, reflecting the historical exchanges that shape the vocabularies of the region.