Todays word fom Kuta Bali is ‘Raya’

Ok, since Nick’s definition gives some sample phrases (a few more than usual), I’ll not attempt a sentence.

However, I do have a question for anyone who knows the answer: What is the difference between the word raya (Thanks Nick, this was one I’d heard but not bothered to find out the meaning to before now) and besar? I’ve seen (and used) besar in pretty much the same way as raya. Is there a difference?

Grbi,
The difference for Besar & Ray are… the spelling….
I think (?) Besar means big, large in size & Ray is in volume (not certain though)…?

G’Day Garbi & Tracey,

Yeah that’s a tricky one!. If we look at the word ‘grand’ in English, then it is interpruted as beng ‘Big’. So it was a matter of those who wrote the format of Bahasa Indonesia to ensure that a different word was designated to each. I suppose it’s one way of making the Kamus Lengkap (dictionary) bigger!.

I meant RayA… Thanks Bazza for not picking up on my missed ‘A’!

Tracey…would I pick on you?. Nah!.

Thanks Barrie & Tracey, but I must be dense…still don’t get the difference. Oh well, guess I’ll just have to make an effort to use ‘raya’ sometimes instead of ‘besar’, and see if any of the local Indos here correct my useage…

Thanks for trying.

Hi Garbi,

If you use the word ‘besar’ in reference to something big etc, then that’s fine.
The word ‘raya’ is generally used in reference to a celebration or a highway