perempuan

Perempuan is a term in Indonesian and Malay that refers to an adult female or women. It is used in everyday speech, media, and formal writing, and contrasts with laki-laki (men). It appears in phrases such as perempuan muda or pekerja perempuan.

Etymology: The word is native to Malay and Indonesian; its precise historical origin is not clearly documented. In Indonesian, another common word for woman is wanita, whose use is more formal or literary in some contexts.

Usage: Perempuan generally denotes an adult woman. For girls, gadis or anak perempuan is common; terms like ibu or perempuan tua may describe older women in certain contexts. In formal or institutional settings, wanita may be preferred.

Social context: In Indonesia and Malaysia, perempuan figures in discussions of education, health, labor participation, and gender equality. Activists and policymakers use the term to describe women's rights and empowerment, as part of broader efforts toward gender equality.

Overall, perempuan is a standard, neutral term widely understood across Malay-speaking communities and varieties of Indonesian, coexisting with related terms that reflect differences in formality, age, and social context.