OUTOFPAPUA database: Lexicons of the West Papuan language area

Entry record from Schapper (2020): Wersing Peitoko

mkal[mˈkal]

•  vi. bitter; salty.pahit; asin.

Ira ba mkal borong.The water is very salty., Air itu terlalu pahit.

Etymology: Possibly West Timorese Austronesian, e.g., Helong |fn{maliʔ}, with metathesis of /k/ and /l/.