tumpangan

Tumpangan is a term in Malay and Indonesian that carries multiple related meanings. Primarily, it refers to a ride or lift given to someone, or the act of sharing a vehicle with another person. In this sense, a person who offers a ride is the host of the tumpangan, and the person who receives the ride is the passenger or traveller. The term can also denote a place to stay for a short time, i.e., lodging or temporary shelter for travelers, especially in traditional or rural settings.

Etymology and scope help explain the multiple senses. Tumpangan is formed from the verb tumpang, meaning to ride along, borrow a ride, or accompany someone. The suffix -an turns the idea into a noun referring to the act, service, or thing related to tumpang. As a result, tumpangan covers both the service of giving/receiving a ride and the provision of temporary lodging.

Usage and examples vary by context. In everyday Indonesian or Malay speech, phrases such as “mohon tumpangan” (request a ride), “memberi tumpangan” (offer/provide a ride), or “tumpangan untuk malam ini” (lodging for tonight) are common. “Tumpangan” can also describe a host’s hospitality, for example, a family that provides tumpangan to travelers. In modern practice, carpooling and ride-sharing may be described with the same term, though speakers often distinguish between the informal act of giving a ride and formal accommodations.

See also: carpooling, hitchhiking, boarding house, lodging.