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wayang

A theatrical performance of mythological events employing puppets or human dancers in Malaysia and Indonesia (especially Java).

ˈwɑjɑŋ131 viewsLast reviewed Jun 29, 2026+ Add a definition
🗺️ Regional & Other
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#1·Apr 27, 2026

A theatrical performance of mythological events employing puppets or human dancers in Malaysia and Indonesia (especially Java).

Origin: , from via . Cognate with. Origin information sourced from Wiktionary contributors (CC BY-SA 4.0).
For parents

"wayang" means: A theatrical performance of mythological events employing puppets or human dancers in Malaysia and Indonesia (especially Java).. This is a fairly neutral word with no inherent risk attached. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than something dangerous. If your child uses it, context will usually make the meaning clear. A brief, curious question about where they heard it is generally enough to know whether to follow up.

For ESL learners

"wayang" means: A theatrical performance of mythological events employing puppets or human dancers in Malaysia and Indonesia (especially Java).. Register: neutral, standard English, usable in most everyday contexts. A common non-native mistake is to use the word in the wrong register, or to assume one fixed meaning when it is actually polysemous; always check the surrounding register and the audience before producing it yourself. In formal writing, prefer a neutral synonym or a short descriptive phrase, and use this word only when you have heard or read it being used naturally in a comparable context.

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#2·Apr 27, 2026

A shadow theatre performance, or such performances in general.

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#3·Apr 27, 2026

(Malaysia, Singapore, music) Any traditional theatrical work, combining drama, music, song and sometimes dance.

Mr [Inderjit] Singh had said earlier that Mr [James] Gomez told him the minority certificate incident was just a ‘wayang’, Malay for theatre.
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For specific readers

"wayang" means: A theatrical performance of mythological events employing puppets or human dancers in Malaysia and Indonesia (especially Java).. This is a fairly neutral word with no inherent risk attached. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than something dangerous. If your child uses it, context will usually make the meaning clear. A brief, curious question about where they heard it is generally enough to know whether to follow up.

Why is this section here?

Slang is read by different audiences for very different reasons. The For parents view re-explains the term in plain, non-judgemental language so a caregiver can understand what their child means without needing the surrounding subculture. The For English learners view focuses on register (when it's safe to use), formal alternatives, and common mistakes — what a textbook won't teach you.

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