a Southeast Asian term of respect or courtesy, similar to 'sir' or 'master,' used when addressing someone of higher status or as a sign of respect.
From Malay 'tuan' (sir/master), a word of courtesy. It entered English through colonial contact with Southeast Asia. The word reflects the hierarchical social structures of the region.
Colonial language reveals power structures—the adoption of 'tuan' by English speakers in Malaysia and Singapore shows how colonizers used local terms while maintaining dominance, creating hybrid languages that still reflect colonial hierarchies.
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