Tosai, Tosei, Tose? Which Spelling Is It In Bahasa Malaysia?
Thosai or Dosa is a traditional Indian crepe that’s eaten with chutney, dhal and curry.
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Let’s settle this once and for all. Is it Tosai, Tosei or Thosei in Malay? *EKK* (buzzer sound) ALL WRONG.
It’s Tose, everyone. Tose. 😌
Yes, we are surprised as well but hey, it’s Malaysia’s Institute of Language and Literature (DBP – Dewan Bahasa & Pustaka). Whatever they say, goes…
Even if this word was in the Bahasa Malaysia dictionary a long time ago, DBP just recently reiterated their content and put it in a fun fact on their social media.
Ejaan Bahasa Melayu: tose#DekadBahasaKebangsaan#BahasaJiwaBangsa pic.twitter.com/FxOLkOa6oA
— Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (@DBPMalaysia) October 17, 2022
Okay, so the spelling to describe Tose is usually spelt in different variations in Malaysia. But they all mean the same thing, which is this:
Thosai / Dosa – A thin crepe originating from South India, made from a fermented batter of rice and lentil. It’s eaten as a breakfast meal and served with three different gravy – chutney, curry and dhal.
However, in a formal context, DBP has reminded us all that the correct spelling for the staple South Indian food in Bahasa Malaysia is Tose.
Netizens don’t really agree on the topic…
Be it in Malay or not, it’s still traditional Indian cuisine. The use of ‘Tose’ actually sparked quite an amount of rage from the Indian community in Malaysia.
Since Deepavali is around the corner, a lot of people are celebrating Indian food and the news ultimately will use the word ‘Tose’. And this is probably why the DBP backed up the local news outlets with their fun fact post today. 🤷🏽♀️
Hi, guys!☺️ I’m aware of how the DBP spells it. Cuma given that it's an Indian food, don't you think the kamus writers should take our spelling into consideration? If an English dictionary spelled Nasi Lemak as Naysee Lehmak to cater to native English speakers' pronunciation— https://t.co/nhRPOEIfMU
— Nandini Balakrishnan (@Nandinibundini) October 17, 2022
Here’s the Bahasa Malaysia spelling for other food in Malaysia
Yes. It’s Martabak. Not Murtabak… (Our whole lives have been nothing but a lie)
It’s Mi. Short and simple. Who needs a double ee when you can replace it with an i?
Kuetiau, not Kway Teow or any other spellings. Why do we need two words when we can combine them into one, right?
READ MORE: Koay Teow? Kuetiau? Kuetiaw? DBP Finally Rules On Official Spelling Of Our Favourite Noodle Dish
Generally, these are only applicable in formal contexts in Bahasa Malaysia, meaning, if you wanna do a proper debate about this food or probably do a Malay essay in SPM. Or maybe write a report about it in Malay or even read it in the Malay news.
Other than that, it doesn’t really matter how you spell it to your friends or to your local Mamak. As long as it sounds the same, the Mamak guy will totally understand and give you a Thosai when you ask. If he gives you a Chapati, well that’s another story.
READ MORE: [Watch] TikToker Mad Over ‘Dry’ CKT From Chinese Shop
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