Here’s what earbuds are called in Malay, according to DBP

Ever since Apple removed the 3.5 mm headphone jack from the iPhone in 2016, wireless earbuds have exploded in popularity, with numerous versions of different shapes and sizes being on the market. Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (DBP), the nation’s foremost authority on Bahasa Malaysia, has finally gotten with the times, revealing on Instagram what these little beans are called in Malay – ‘fon putik’.

‘Putik’ is the Malay word for bud, a plant shoot that is “undeveloped or embryonic” (per Wikipedia), like a flower bud. It also refers to anything small that is shaped like a bud, which is why cotton buds are called ‘putik kapas’.

Directly translated, ‘fon putik’ means ‘bud phones’; the Malay term for earphones is ‘fon telinga’. A cursory Google search revealed that many BM product listings on Lazada and Shopee also use the term ‘putik telinga’, the direct translation for earbuds.

The agency has been adding tech-related terms to the Kamus Dewan dictionary for several years now, including ‘tatal lara‘ (doomscrollling), ‘tonton lewah‘ (binge-watching) and, most famously, ‘tunafoto‘ (photobomb). It also caused a stir last year when it announced that the correct Malay spelling for ‘kuey teow’, the flat rice noodle, is actually ‘kuetiau‘.

Recent Posts

Over a year later, MYR currency conversion widget is back on Google Search

If you always rely on Google Search for currency conversion, here's some good news. Google…

3 minutes ago

Samsung’s 2025 Bespoke AI fridges, washing machines and vacuum cleaners have arrived in Malaysia

Samsung Malaysia has unveiled its latest Bespoke AI home appliances which includes its new side-by-side…

15 hours ago

Tecno Camon 40 Pro 5G launched in Malaysia – Priced from RM1099 via offline platforms, available online starting 25th April

After launching the Camon 40 Pro 4G last month, Tecno has now launched its 5G…

17 hours ago

Google Pixel 9a now officially available in Malaysia, priced from RM2,699

After much teasing, the Google Pixel 9a is now officially available for purchase in Malaysia.…

2 days ago

Updated Xpeng X9 2025 boasts Turing AI Smart Driving, upgraded features and improved refinement

[ UPDATE 16/04/2025 11:50 ] The Xpeng X9 2025 RHD is now available in Hong…

2 days ago

U Mobile signs Huawei, ZTE as vendors to deploy Malaysia’s second 5G network

U Mobile today has officially announced Huawei and ZTE as its network technology partners for…

2 days ago

This website uses cookies.