Many cultures have their own characteristics. Some nice, some odd and some incomprehensible. And along with these unique characteristics comes an unique vocabulary. As a small kid I marveled about the Inuit and their apparently 100’s of words to describe snow. Just because they have so much of it.
Indonesian culture is no exception. Obviously the Indonesian language hasn’t produced 100’s of words for snow. But there’s a word that doesn’t quite mean cute, adorable or tantalizing. It’s more like the feeling of ‘yeah, I need to pinch those cheeks’, ‘oooh my god, I’m going into a frenzy. So cute as that kid is’. A little like a distant spinster aunt might get, visiting and finding out you’ve produced children without her knowing.
It is allowable to pinch cheeks. Even have the occasional bite in a loved ones arm or hand. Mostly it’s women how say it. But this doens’t mean Indonesian men don’t have these feelings. I don’t know what this says about a culture, but I think it is nice to have culture where you can express this feeling and give it a word of it’s own.
Gemes, that’s the name of this Indonesian feeling.
duuuuhhhh lutuna….that bby lobster hehehehehe anyway gemes or gemas is a good excuse to pinch little babies or cute hubbie :p
Thank you for explaining.
In the first place because I know now what to say to and about the little one who’s provisional name is “Swaantje”.
Secondly because up to this moment I had a totally wrong idea about the meaning of the word. I’ve heard about it before of course. But I thought it meant something like the arousal of sexual feelings. “I’m gemas and you are gemas”, meaning let’s make love.
Thirdly because it endears me to this culture. It’s no secret to everyone who knows me that I love all kinds of cultures which encourage sweet pinching of whatever part of the human body.
Gosh… I still don’t know how to translate ‘gemes’ into English. As I was feeling that way when my kids were infants, hubby just couldn’t comprehend the reasoning for ‘gemes’ or what ‘gemes’ in in English. I can’t explain it, just got to do it, or I might burst into flames.
I can picture my grandmother’s face (and mom’s too) when she was feeling ‘gemes’. Lips all puckered up, making the ‘ummmm…’ sound, and one hand is slowly approaching my cheek. And before I could say ‘jangan’ (or ‘dooooooon’t), her thumb and index finger already made a red mark on my cheek. I got the ‘cubit’.
Good article! I’ve just realized that I always use the word ‘gemes’ (or it should be gemas for correct spelling) because I was too lazy to look up in the dictionary! And my husband gets the idea, but he associates ‘gemes’ means I think something or someone is cute. Well, maybe but not quite right either.
I think because Javanese people tend to speak with body language, so that’s why we have word to interpret all of them. Just my two cents….
also with a very close friend, when we are “gemas” or “gemes” to somebody, we would also give that guy a pinch or a punch on the arm or a slap on the back shoulder. The harder or the more pain it is, the more you love your friend, right Bon ??? But make sure your face is smiling when you do this
I don’t have much to say on this topic, except that the baby is the cutest baby I have ever seen!
Some indonesian terminologies:
Gemes: a word Indonesians use to describe the intense feeling in the following situations:
a) seeing an incredibly cute baby (like that one in your picture)
b) being extremely angry at higher authorities (like your parents, your teacher) but not being able to do anything. “gemes pengen nyambit”
c) a guy and a girl in bed just about to do you know what
eh, sorry, I forgot. I have another word for us to crack…
does anyone know how to translate “Gombal” to English?
@sushihunt: so, after all my original intuition (gemes = in the mood for making love) was not off target.
2 sushi: gombal = loads of sweet talking but all not true ?
2 imme: gemes of my style hahaha yep painful…
@bonnie: gombal = “loads of sweet talking but not true” = bullshit = crap ?
this is gombal
Cewe : Hi, if someday I’ll go to visit Indonesia, which place you think I have to visit?
Cowo : Absolutely Bandung!
Cewe : Why? What so interesting?
Cowo : The question is not “what” but “who”. There you can find me.
Cewe : Oh ya, does it important?
Cowo : Yes, I’m sure about it. Maybe it’s not important for you now, but someday it will. Coz I can predict our future.
Cewe : But no one can actually predict the future!
Cowo : Yes, I know! That’s why the best way to predict the future is to invent it! So, why don’t we invent our future together?
the coversation between cewe (girl) and cowo (boy) that according to me is gombal :p
thanks to http://blog.microbrainx.net/2007/08/25/gombal-kah/
@sushihunt:
The 2nd usage of ‘gemes’ as in ‘gemes pengen nyambit’ can probably be put in a similar sentence like, ‘gregetan pengen nyambit?’
But ‘gregetan’ can also be applied when you are at your wits end/losing your patience.
When I used to go out with an Aussie guy, I used to say ‘gemes’ also but couldn’t find the exact meaning that translated the word so I just showed him he3x.
What happened next was he started saying ‘Gemes! Gemes!’
come to think of it gombal is probably closest to cheesy or corny, like that sentence in Jerry maguire (sorry not Jerry vd Brink
): “You complete me” or… when Jerry came back and babbled his way through and his wife said: “you had me at hello”
but the difference is, sometimes cheesy lines can be sincere… as if they really came from the heart…
gombal is probably even closer to cheesy and insincere, talking high but completely meaningless like when a guy texted a girl saying:
sunshine, i’m doing fine, still orbiting your way.
now that’s plain GOMBAL!
The baby is soo cute, “gemas” or “gemes” can express positive with example of the cute baby above but it also can express negative like “I want to slap that bitch”. Still can use “gemas/gemes”.
But there’s a downside of that, the germs!.. The sweeter the baby is, the more germs he’s likely to catch from people (because of pinch or kiss or just touch the chubby cheek).
First I did not know about gemes or gombal – and was happy. Now the words have popped up & been explained I’m still puzzled- and suffer from insomnia.
@Ecky: Personally I’m all in favor of transmitting germs. The number of 241 million Indonesians indicate most of your compatriots do share this hobby. I guess you’d better stop worrying about germs or else you might be excluded from the pleasures of a French kiss.
Don’t worry too much on the germs transmitting if you have a good protection for your child
Carried away with this protection thingy since I’m working on that route for work related.
Btw I love French Kiss
)