bajau
|ba-jau|
/bəˈdʒaʊ/
sea nomad people
Etymology
'bajau' originates from Malay/Indonesian, specifically the word 'Bajau', where the term referred to the Sama-Bajau ethnic group and their maritime way of life.
'bajau' derives from the Sama–Bajaw languages of the southern Philippines and eastern Malaysia, was adopted into Malay/Indonesian as 'Bajau', and later entered English usage as 'bajau'.
Initially, it referred specifically to a particular Sama subgroup known for living at sea; over time it has been used more broadly in English to denote the wider ethnic group and their sea-nomadic culture.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
an ethnic group of maritime people (often called sea nomads) living in the coastal and island areas of the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia and surrounding regions; members are traditionally boat-dwelling fishers and free-divers (also called Sama-Bajau).
Many bajau communities live on small wooden boats and rely on fishing and free-diving for their livelihood.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2026/01/02 17:40