<![CDATA[This article delineates the semantic typology and interpretative nuances of the Indonesian interjection aduh alongside its functional equivalents in Nias. The inquiry addresses two gaps: the paucity of systematic investigations into aduh using Natural Semantic Metalanguage (NSM) and the absence of a comprehensive account of its Nias counterparts (aökö, e bale, edah). Data were elicited through participatory observation and semantic-ethnographic interviews with L1 speakers of Indonesian in Medan and native speakers of the Gunungsitoli Nias dialect. Qualitative analysis employed semantic explication. Findings reveal that Indonesian aduh exhibits a polysemous structure encompassing emotive, volitive, and cognitive types. In contrast, Nias has no single equivalent: aökö functions as emotive (sudden physical pain) and volitive (request/reprimand); e bale functions as emotive (empathy with explicit hope); while edah functions across types as emotive (annoyance), volitive (reprimand with explicit consequences), and cognitive (evaluation of new information). The semantic differentiation of interjections serves as a linguistic reflex of divergent cultural scenarios.]]>
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