Learning Indonesian grammar rules is important, but it is also in another level. One most difficult topic in learning Indonesian is the prefixes. Most Indonesian words are compounded from the combination of prefix and root words. In this post we are going to explain about prefixes with verbs.
Indonesian Prefix Me-
| Verb root words | Me- | Verbs | Meaning |
| Lihat ( to see) | Me + lihat | Melihat | See |
| Masak ( to cook) | Me + masak | Memasak | Cook |
| Makan (to eat) | Me + makan | Memakan | Eat |
| Buat (to make) | Me + (m) +buat | Membuat | Make |
| Lempar (to throw) | Me + lempar | Melempar | Throw |
| Hitung (to count) | Me + (ng) + hitung | Menghitung | Count |
| Dorong (to push) | Me + (n) + dorong | Mendorong | Push |
| Tulis (to write) | Me + (n) + tulis (drop the ‘t’) | Menulis | Write |
| Baca (to read) | Me + (m) + baca | Membaca | Read |
| Bakar (to burn) | Me + (m) + bakar | Membakar | Burn |
| Eja (to spell) | Me + (ng) + eja | Mengeja | Spell |
| Dengar (to listen) | Me + (n) + dengar | Mendengar | Listen |
| Tendang (to kick) | Me + (n) + tendang (drop the ‘t’) | Menendang | Kick |
| Minum (to drink) | Me + minum | Meminum | Drink |
| Pakai ( to wear) | Me + (m) + pakai (drop the ‘p’) | Memakai | Wear |
| Simpan ( to save) | Me + (ny) + simpan (drop the ‘s’) | Menyimpan | Save |
| Tes ( to test) | Me + (nge) + tes | Mengetes | Test |
| Lap ( to wipe) | Men + (nge) + lap | Mengelap | Wipe |
| Gosok (to scrub) | Me + (ng) + gosok | Menggosok | Scrub |
| Sambung ( to connect) | Me + (ny) + sambung (drop the ‘s’) | Menyambung | Connect |
| Tawar (to bargain) | Me + (n) + tawar (drops the ‘t’) | Menawar | Bargain |
The general rules of prefix me-
Here’s the explanation about Indonesian verb prefixes:
- Me + verb root words
Verb root words start with L, M, N, R, W, and Y can be directly paired with prefix me- without any addition.
- Me- + (n) + verb root word
Verb root words starting with C,D, and J can be directly paired with prefix me- but should inserting ‘n’ in between the words but does not necessarily omit the first letter. But for words starting with T, the letter ‘t’ should be omitted.
- Me- + (ng) + verb root word
Words starting with A,I,U,E,O, G, and H can be directly paired with prefix me- with inserting ‘ng’ in between the words but does not necessarily omit the first letter. Verb root words starting with ‘K’ when paired with prefix me- follows same rule but the first letter is omitted.
- Me- + (m) + verb root words
Words starting with B,F, and V can be directly paired with prefix me- with inserting ‘m’ in between the words without omitting the first letter. However, words starting with ‘P’ when paired with prefix me- follow the same rule but the first letter should be omitted.Â
- Me- +(ny) + verb root words
This formula is used only for words starting with S and the first letter should be omitted.
- Me- +(nge) + verb root words
This formula is specifically used only for words with one syllable for example tes, cek, lap, and more.
Also learn more about Indonesian verb prefixes phonology.
Indonesian Prefix Ber-
Prefix ber- is usually used to construct a verb into new words which has meaning of ‘being something, doing something, having certain attribute, and have something’.
| Verb root words | Prefix ber- | Verbs | Meaning |
| Dansa (to dance) | Ber+dansa | Berdansa | to have a dance |
| Hitung (to count) | Ber + hitung | Berhitung | To have count |
| Canda (to joke) | Ber + canda | Bercanda | To tell joke |
| Main (to play) | Ber + main | Bermain | Playing |
| Renang ( to swim) | Ber + renang (drop the ‘r’) | Berenang | Swimming |
| Pura-pura (to pretend) | Ber + pura-pura | Berpura-pura | Pretending |
| Santai (to relax) | Ber + santai | Bersantai | Relaxing |
| Kerja (to work) | Be-+ kerja (drop the ‘r’ in the prefix) | Bekerja | Working |
| Ajar (to teach) | Bel + ajar (replace the ‘r’ with ‘l’) | Belajar | Studying |
In general, prefix ber- can be paired with almost any verb root words with no pattern change. Both the prefix and verb root word should be read and written as it is. However, there is little exception for prefix ber- as the following.
- For some verb root words which has ‘r’ or ‘er’ element, the prefix ‘ber-‘ wil become ‘be-‘ the ‘r’ is omitted for words adjustment. For example ber- + kerja = bekerja (working), ber- + renang = berenang, and more. Both verb root words has ‘r’ and ‘er’ element on it, so the ‘r’ in the prefix is omitted.
- This special exception only applies for prefix ber- and verb root words ‘ajar’ in which when paired the ‘r’ in the prefix is replaced with ‘l’. In short, it is written as (ber- + ajar = belajar) because the prefix ber- is changed into bel-.
Also learn more about Indonesian prefix ber-.
Indonesian Prefix Pe-
The combination of prefix pe- and verb root words is usually referred the doer of the action or certain tools. In English, we have the same pattern as suffix ‘er’ which turns verbs into nouns.
| Verb root words | Prefix pe- | Verbs/nouns | Meaning |
| Lari (to run) | Pe- + lari | Pelari | Runner |
| Lukis (to draw) | Pe- + lukis | Pelukis | Painter |
| Hapus (to erase) | Pe + (ng) + hapus | Penghapus | Eraser |
| Renang (to swim) | Pe- + renang | Perenang | Swimmer |
| Ajar (to teach) | Pe- +(l) + ajar | Pelajar | Student |
| Bawa (to carry) | Pe + (m) + bawa | pembawa | Carrier |
| Tari (to dance) | Pe + (n) + tari (omit the ‘t’) | Penari | Dancer |
| Curi | Pe + (n) + curi | Pencuri | Thief |
Prefix pe-, in general, is used to change verbs into noun. It mostly refers to the doer of the action or tools being used in the action. The general formula is prefix pe- + verb root words with few exceptions as the following.
- Pe + (n) + verb root words
This is formula can be used for verb root words starting with D, C, and J, for example pe- + (n) + dengar = pendengar (listener), pe+ (n) + curi = pencuri (thief), and many more. But for words starting with ‘T’, it follows the same formula but the ‘t’ is omitted. For example pe +(n) + tari = penari (dance), pe- +(n)+ tunjuk = penunjuk (pointer), and many more.
- Pe- + (m) + verb root words
The addition of ‘m’ with prefix pe- is used when the first letter of the words start with B and V for example pe- +(m)+bawa = pembawa (carrier), pe- +(m) + baca = pembaca (reader), and more. For words start with letter P, the formula is the same but the first letter is omitted. For example pe- +(m)+ pakai = pemakai (user), pe- + (m) + panjat = pemanjat (climber), and more.
- Pe- + (ng) + verb root words
This formula is used when the first letter of the words start with A, I, U, O, G, H and K for example pe- +(ng)+ hapus = penghapus (eraser), pe- +(ng)+ gosok = penggosok (scrubber), pe- +(ng)+ iris = pengiris (slicer), pe- +(ng)+ambil = pengambil (taker), and many more.
- Pe- +(ny)+ verb root words
The addition of ‘ny’ is used when the words start with letter S and the first letter should be omitted as well. For example pe- +(ny)+ sayang = penyayang (lover), pe- + (ny) + sambung = penyambung (connector), and many more.
Another exception
This formula only occur for the root word ‘ajar’ with prefix pe- only because it creates two different meaning as the following.
- Pe- +(ng)+ajar = pengajar (teacher)
- Pe- +(l) +ajar = pelajar (student)
Also learn more about Indonesian prefixes.
Indonesian Prefix Di-
Prefix di- is the opposite of prefix me-. If prefix me- indicates that the subject is the doer of the action, while prefix di- the subject is the object of the action. In English, we may recognize prefix me- as active sentence while prefix di- passive sentence. The general formula is the same as prefix di- + verb root words without any change or addition in between the words.
| Verb root words | Prefix di- | Verb | Meaning |
| Beli (to buy) | Di- + beli | Dibeli | Being bought |
| Bawa (to bring) | Di- + bawa | Dibawa | Being brought |
| Hapus (to erase) | di- + hapus | Dihapus | Being erased |
| Urus (to take care) | di- + urus | Diurus | Being taken care |
| Iris (to slice) | di- + iris | Diiris | Being sliced |
Important note:
It is important to note that prefix di- in some cases also serve as preposition. The difference between di- as prefix and di- as preposition is the writing system. Di- as prefix is written without space while di- as preposition is written with space.
Also learn Indonesian language basic.
Indonesian Prefix Ter-
The prefix ter- is similar to the English –ed or passive form in which the actor of the action is not significant. Also, prefix ter- sometimes indicates unintentional accident.  Take a look at the following examples.
- Ter- + injak = terinjak (being stepped on, accidentally)
- Ter- + hapus = terhapus (being erased, accidentally)
- Ter- + makan = termakan (being eaten, accidentally)
Among other grammar subject, the use of prefix is indeed the most complicated part. Many foreigners claim that they have a hard time learning prefix. How about you? Do you also confuse learning Indonesian prefix? We hope you understand Indonesian verb prefixes better with Masteringbahasa.