kuih

English

Colourful kuih in Malaysia

Alternative forms

• kueh

Etymology

From Malay kuih, from Hokkien 粿 (kóe, “rice cake”).

Noun

kuih pl (plural only)

1. Bite-sized snack or dessert foods in Malaysia and nearby countries, usually made from rice and often brightly coloured.

Derived terms

• kuih tart

Iban

Etymology

Borrowed from Malay kuih, Hokkien 粿 (kóe).

Noun

kuih

1. bite-sized cakes, cookies or pastry, especially the steamed ones made in Southeast Asia or Southern China

Malay

Etymology

Borrowed from Hokkien 粿 (kóe).

Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -eh

Noun

kuih (Jawi spelling کوءيه, plural kuih-kuih, informal 1st possessive kuihku, 2nd possessive kuihmu, 3rd possessive kuihnya)

1. bite-sized cakes, cookies or pastry, especially the steamed ones made in Southeast Asia or Southern China

Alternative forms

• kue (Indonesian)

Synonyms

• jaja (Sanggau)

Descendants

• → English: kuih

Further reading

• “kuih” in Pusat Rujukan Persuratan Melayu | Malay Literary Reference Centre, Kuala Lumpur: Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka, 2017.