bebal

Indonesian

Etymology

From Malay bebal.

Pronunciation

• (Standard Indonesian) IPA^(key): /bəˈbal/ [bəˈbal]
• Rhymes: -al
• Syllabification: be‧bal

Adjective

bebal

1. Stubborn, obstinate; refusing to move or to change one's opinion; firmly resisting; persistent in doing something.

   Synonyms: keras kepala, kepala batu, keras hati

2. (uncommon) Obtuse, dull-witted; one who is slow to understand; stupid.

Further reading

• “bebal”, in Kamus Besar Bahasa Indonesia [Great Dictionary of the Indonesian Language] (in Indonesian), Jakarta: Agency for Language Development and Cultivation – Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology of the Republic of Indonesia, 2016

Malay

Etymology

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /bəbal/
• Rhymes: -əbal, -bal, -al

Adjective

bebal (Jawi spelling ببل, comparative lebih bebal, superlative paling bebal)

1. stupid (lacking in intelligence)

   Synonyms: see Thesaurus:bodoh

Further reading

• "bebal" in Pusat Rujukan Persuratan Melayu (PRPM) [Malay Literary Reference Centre (PRPM)] (in Malay), Kuala Lumpur: Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka, 2017
  (also see "bebal" at PRPM first version)