The word banua or vanua (the latter from Fijian, as well as various languages of Melanesia, see below) – meaning 'land', 'home', or 'village' – occurs in several Austronesian languages. It derives from the Proto-Austronesian reconstructed form *banua. The word has particular significance in several countries.

In the Kapampangan language, banwa or banua means "sky" or "year".

In the Hiligaynon Visayan language, banwa means "people", "nation" or "country."

In the Malay language (the lingua franca of both Malaysia and Indonesia), benua means "landmass" or "continent". The word for "land" in these languages and nearby Austronesian languages — e.g., in Tana Toraja, Tana Tidung or Tanö Niha – are tanah or tana.

In the Banjar language, banua means "village" or "homeland".

In the Old Javanese language, wanwa or wanua means "village", "inhabited place" or "settlement".

In the Buginese language, banua means "village", "country", "land" or "homeland".

In the Toraja language, banua means "home".