"Dukun itu tidak pernah sembahyang."

Translation: That witchdoctor never prays.

[joeldipops]

What do people think about translating dukun as witch/wizard/magician/warlock/etc?

[dkfour]

I think shaman is correct. Witchdoctor is a bit offensive

[WayangOrang]

'medicine man' , 'sorcerer' , 'shaman' , are also okay I think, and probably many other names as well.
I guess it depends on the type of 'dukun'.

du.kun
n orang yang mengobati, menolong orang sakit, memberi jampi-jampi (mantra, guna-guna, dan sebagainya)

Gabungan Kata
dukun bayi; dukun beranak; dukun calak; dukun jampi; dukun japa; dukun klenik; dukun santet; dukun siwer; dukun susuk; dukun tenung; dukun tiban

[joeldipops]

Interesting that primarily a dukun is a "Person that gives medicine, helps sick people". I guess "Shaman" fits the best. "Medicine man" and "Witch doctor" kind work, but feel a little out-dated. Something that Victorian colonials would talk about, whereas shaman feels more contemporary.

[mapmanic]

The word "shaman" has an interesting history. From Russian which got it from Tungusic which got it from Chinese (沙门) which got it from Prakrit or Sanskrit "shramana" which was basically a monk!