sumatra: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B1Formal to neutral; used in geographical, historical, and commercial contexts.
Quick answer
What does “sumatra” mean?
A large island in western Indonesia, the sixth-largest island in the world.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A large island in western Indonesia, the sixth-largest island in the world.
Used in cultural, geographical, and commercial contexts to refer to the island, its culture, or products from the region (e.g., coffee, wildlife).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or spelling. Pronunciation may show slight regional variation, but the word is not common enough in daily speech for distinct patterns.
Connotations
Neutral geographical/cultural reference. May evoke associations with wildlife (orangutans), coffee, the 2004 tsunami, or Dutch colonial history.
Frequency
Equally low frequency in both dialects, appearing mainly in geographical, historical, or specialty contexts (e.g., coffee marketing).
Grammar
How to Use “sumatra” in a Sentence
[Preposition +] SumatraSumatra + NounNoun + of + SumatraVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “sumatra” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The Sumatran tiger is critically endangered.
- She brought back a beautiful Sumatran textile.
American English
- This Sumatran coffee has a heavy, earthy body.
- The Sumatran rainforest is shrinking rapidly.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in trade contexts, especially for coffee branding (e.g., 'single-origin Sumatra coffee').
Academic
Used in geography, history, environmental studies, and anthropology papers.
Everyday
Used in travel discussions, coffee shops, or news about natural disasters.
Technical
Used in geology (tectonic plates), forestry (rainforest conservation), and zoology (species endemic to Sumatra).
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “sumatra”
Neutral
Weak
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “sumatra”
- Misspelling as 'Sumarta', 'Summatra'. Using 'Sumatran' as the noun for the island (correct: 'Sumatra'; 'Sumatran' is the adjective/demonym). Incorrect article use: 'the Sumatra' (usually no article for the island name alone).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, Sumatra is an island, part of the country of Indonesia.
The adjective is 'Sumatran', as in 'Sumatran tiger' or 'Sumatran culture'.
Its climate, volcanic soil, and traditional processing methods (like wet-hulling) produce beans with a unique, full-bodied, earthy flavour favoured by many.
Sumatra is an island with multiple provinces. The major city and often considered the de facto capital is Medan in North Sumatra.
A large island in western Indonesia, the sixth-largest island in the world.
Sumatra is usually formal to neutral; used in geographical, historical, and commercial contexts. in register.
Sumatra: in British English it is pronounced /sʊˈmɑːtrə/, and in American English it is pronounced /sʊˈmɑːtrə/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'SUgar & MATch – a sweet island with fiery volcanoes.' Or 'SOUP in a MAT – messy picnic on a tropical island.'
Conceptual Metaphor
Sumatra as a source (of coffee, wildlife, natural resources). Sumatra as a victim (of deforestation, natural disasters).
Practice
Quiz
What is Sumatra most commonly associated with in global commerce?