kawani

Hello, you have come here looking for the meaning of the word kawani. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word kawani, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say kawani in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word kawani you have here. The definition of the word kawani will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition ofkawani, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.

Tagalog

Alternative forms

Etymology

From ka- +‎ wani, according to Panganiban (1972).

Alternatively, borrowed from Malay kerani (“clerk”) (written in Jawi as کراني), ultimately from Tamil கிராணி (kirāṇi, “clerk”) or from Sanskrit करण (karaṇa, “scribe”). Theories on the linkage from Malay include:

  • According to Potet (2016), when the word was introduced to Tagalog, the Jawi letter ر (r) was probably mistaken for the letter و (w).
  • According to Zorc (1981), the /r/ possibly shifted to /l/ when borrowed then the /l/ was lost later on and became /w/.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /kaˈwani/, (nonstandard)
  • Hyphenation: ka‧wa‧ni

Noun

kawaní or kawani (Baybayin spelling ᜃᜏᜈᜒ)

  1. (formal) employee
    Synonyms: empleado, tauhan
    kawani ng pamahalaan ― government employee
  2. helper; aid; assistant
    Synonyms: katulong, katulungin

Derived terms

See also

Adjective

awaní or kawani (Baybayin spelling ᜃᜏᜈᜒ)

  1. working as an employee or helper

Further reading

Wikious
Boobota
Sagapedia