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noun

Sumatra

soo-MAHT-ruh

Sumatra (noun) means a large island in western Indonesia, one of the biggest islands in the world. Example: “They flew from Jakarta to Sumatra to see the rainforest.”

noun
1
A large island in western Indonesia, one of the biggest islands in the world.
"They flew from Jakarta to Sumatra to see the rainforest."
2
A violent squall or rainstorm blowing from the south, named after the island.
"Ships in the strait had to watch for sudden sumatras."

How to use Sumatra

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishThe Indonesian island, or a sudden violent storm named for it.

Word forms

Sumatras plural

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They flew from Jakarta to _____ to see the rainforest.

Etymology

From Portuguese Sumatra, ultimately from Sanskrit samudra, "sea," via Malay and Arabic.

Origin: Portuguese

Rhymes for Sumatra

See all rhymes for Sumatra →

Frequently asked questions

What does “Sumatra” mean?

The word “Sumatra” means a large island in western Indonesia, one of the biggest islands in the world. In plain terms, the Indonesian island, or a sudden violent storm named for it.

How do you pronounce “Sumatra”?

“Sumatra” is pronounced soo-MAHT-ruh (/suːˈmɑːtɹə/ in IPA).

How do you use “Sumatra” in a sentence?

Here is “Sumatra” used in a sentence: “They flew from Jakarta to Sumatra to see the rainforest.”

What part of speech is “Sumatra”?

“Sumatra” is a noun.

Where does the word “Sumatra” come from?

The word “Sumatra” comes from Portuguese. From Portuguese Sumatra, ultimately from Sanskrit samudra, "sea," via Malay and Arabic.

How many meanings does “Sumatra” have?

“Sumatra” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a large island in western Indonesia, one of the biggest islands in the world.

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