Some nouns consisting of repeated forms are single bases(root words). Many of these words are names of plants, animals, types of food and instruments:
- cumi-cumi(squid);
- kupu-kupu(butterfly);
- alang-alang(tall grass species);
- gado-gado(mixed vegetable salad with peanut sauce);
- oleh-oleh(souvenirs bought for other people).
Sometimes it also refers to something having two or more similar parts:
- paru-paru(lungs);
- baling-baling(propeller);
- anting-anting(earring).