kawani

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⟩.

Alternatively, according to Panganiban (1972), the word is from ka- +‎ wani.

• Hyphenation: ka‧wa‧ni
• IPA^(key): /kawaˈni/, [kɐ.wɐˈni]

kawaní (Baybayin spelling ᜃᜏᜈᜒ)

1. (formal) employee

   Synonyms: empleyado, tauhan

   kawani ng pamahalaan

   government employee

2. helper; aid; assistant

   Synonyms: katulong, katulungin

• kawanihan

• Potet, Jean-Paul G. (2016) Tagalog Borrowings and Cognates, Lulu Press, →ISBN, pages 103
• Panganiban, José Villa (1973) Diksyunaryo-Tesauro Pilipino-Ingles, Quezon City: Manlapaz Publishing Co., page 276
• Zorc, David Paul (1981) Core Etymological Dictionary of Filipino: Part 2, page 83