Njai

The njai ([ɲai]; Enhanced Indonesian Spelling System: nyai) were women who were kept as housekeepers, companions, and concubines in the Dutch East Indies (modern-day Indonesia). In the Javanese language, the word nyai meant "sister",^[1] but the term later took a more specific meaning.^[2]^[3] Author Rob Nieuwenhuys described the position of the njai as always subservient, being the white man's housekeeper and companion, before she was his concubine.^[4]

^ Jacobs, Hans; Roelands, Jan (1970). Indisch ABC (in Dutch). Arbeiderspers. p. 103.
^ Indische letteren: documentatieblad van de Werkgroep Indisch-Nederlandse Letterkunde (in Dutch). Werkgroep Indisch-Nederlandse Letterkunde. 2001. p. 135.
^ Indisch letterland: verhalen uit twee eeuwen Nederlands- Indische literatuur (in Dutch). Sijthoff. 1987. p. 6. ISBN 9789021838014.
^ Berg, Joop van den (1992). Soebatten, sarongs en sinjo's: Indische woorden in het Nederlands (in Dutch). BZZTôH. p. 62. ISBN 9789062915590.

[1] Jacobs, Hans; Roelands, Jan (1970). Indisch ABC (in Dutch). Arbeiderspers. p. 103.

[2] Indische letteren: documentatieblad van de Werkgroep Indisch-Nederlandse Letterkunde (in Dutch). Werkgroep Indisch-Nederlandse Letterkunde. 2001. p. 135.

[3] Indisch letterland: verhalen uit twee eeuwen Nederlands- Indische literatuur (in Dutch). Sijthoff. 1987. p. 6. ISBN 9789021838014.

[4] Berg, Joop van den (1992). Soebatten, sarongs en sinjo's: Indische woorden in het Nederlands (in Dutch). BZZTôH. p. 62. ISBN 9789062915590.

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