Appendix:Indonesian affixes

Words with prefixes and suffixes can be found by looking up their roots. If you do not know the root of a word, you can find it by choosing its prefix on the list below and looking for it there.

Variations: be- (if the root word starts with letter "r").
Forms a verb that often means "being something, having something, having a certain attribute" or "indicating a state of being or condition". For example the root word 'nilai' have a general meaning of 'value', thus the verb bernilai have a meaning of verb 'to have a value' or 'valuable' adjective. The adjective 'bahaya' means 'danger', 'berbahaya' means 'to be dangerous', having a dangerous value.

• Tumbuhan itu berbahaya untuk dimakan - That plant is dangerous to eat

Forms a verb indicating the passive voice, where the main focus of the sentence is on the action or the object of the action. Almost always translated into -ed suffix in English - often corresponds to to be + verb + -ed, but not necessarily. 'larang' (prohibit), 'dilarang' (prohibited).

• Dia ditunjuk menjadi kepala sekolah setelah rapat para guru - He is appointed to be principal after teachers' meeting

Only used as a confix. See ke-an under confixes below.

Variations: me-, men-, mem-, meny- (depend on the first letter of the root word):

1. men-: c (caci - mencaci), d (daki - mendaki), j (jadi - menjadi), t (tepi - menepi, first letter disappears)
2. mem-: b (beri - memberi), f, p (punya - mempunyai, sometimes the first letter disappears), v (validasi, memvalidasi)
3. meny-: s (sapu - menyapu, first letter disappears)
4. meng-: a, e, g, h, i, k, o, u
5. me-: l, m, n, r, w

Variations: pe-, pen-, pem-, peny- (depending on the first letter of the root word):

1. pen-: c (cari - pencari), d (daki - pendaki), j (jilat - penjilat), t (tikung - penikung, first letter disappears)
2. pem-: b (beri - pemberi), f, p (pisah - pemisah, sometimes the first letter disappears), v
3. peny-: s (sapu - penyapu, first letter disappears)
4. peng-: a, e, g, h, i, k, o, u
5. pe-: l, m, n, r, w

• + noun: forms a noun that indicates a person, agent or thing that has the character of the root word.
  • selam (swim) - penyelam (swimmer)
  • ajar (teach) - pengajar, another word for guru (teacher)
• + adjective: forms a noun that indicates a person or thing that has the quality or attribute inherent in the adjective root word.
  • muda (young) - pemuda (youngster, a young person)
• with '-an' suffix: forms a noun referring to a process in the sense of a noun.
  • hapus (erase) - penghapusan (erasing, deletion)
  • guna (use) - penggunaan (using)

Forms words that indicate a singularity, and the words sometimes are used for measurement (measure words). For example, 'buah' (fruit) becomes 'sebuah' (a fruit, one fruit) which is used for expressing a singular: 'sebuah kursi' (one chair). It's also used to create adverbs that express comparisons to the root word.

• sepenuh (“entirely”)
  • sepenuh hati ("wholeheartedly")
• sebesar (“as big as”)
• selanjutnya (“the next”)
  • menunggu pemberitahuan selanjutnya ("waiting for further notice")

Variations: te- (if the root word starts with letter "r")

• + adjective: forms a superlative
  • terbesar (“biggest”)
• + non-adjective: forms a passive perfect verb or an accidental and unplanned occurrence.
  • terlibat (“to be involved”)
  • terdampar (“to be stranded”)

• -ku: my
• -mu: your
• -nya: his, her

The ke-an confix is used on verbs and adjectives to create nouns. Here are some examples

the ke-an confix can also be used to indicate one is suffering from or to indicate an excessiveness of the noun created.

Variations: pem-an, pen-an, peng-an; penge-an, peny-an (depend on the first letter of the root word)

Forms a noun that often refers to a circumstance referred to by the root word or the result of the action of the verb in the sentence. May also indicate a place or location.

• kawin (marry) - perkawinan (marriage ceremony)
• kantor (office) - perkantoran (office complex)

• Appendix:Malay affixes