Derivative Nouns in Indonesian Language

This is another reason why Indonesian is easy to understand. We don’t have to remember lots vocabulary because the Indonesian vocabularies are derived or originated from verbs and nouns. Take a look explanation below :

1. root word + -an ( Noun derived from verbs )

makan = to eat

makanan = food

bayar = pay

bayarn = payment

pikir = think

pikiran = thought

2. pe- + adjective/ noun/ verb ( It shows a person who has habit or does the action denoted by the root word )

~ pe- + adjective ( showing quality ) ( it simply means “ adjective + person “ )

jahat = bad, wicked

penjahat = a criminal, bad person

berani = brave, unafraid

pemberani = brave person

~ pe- + noun

laut = ocean

pelaut = sailor, mariner, seaman

 

~ pe- + verb ( It’s similar like verb + er )

tulis = write

penulis = writer

bantu = to assist

pembantu = assistant

baca = read

pembaca = reader

~ The prefix pe- is also used to show an agent for an action. So, the noun formed by pe- is used to qualify / modify other noun.

panas = hot

mesin pemanas = heater

memburu = to hunt

robot pemburu = hunting robot

3. pe- root word + -an ( it’s made from transitive verbs ) ( Indicating something as a result of the action performed related to the root word ) ( In English, it’s equivalent to “gerund” )

membersihkan = to clean

pembersihan = cleaning

mengerti = understand

pengertian = understanding

mengajar = to teach

pengajaran = teaching

menerangkan = to inform

penerangan = information

membicarakan = to talk, to discuss

pembicaraan =  discussion

4. per- rootword + -an

~ originated from ber- + verb

bekerja = to work

pekerjaan = job, work

bertanya = to ask

pertanyaan = a query / a question

~originated from other nouns

saudara = brother, sister, cousin

persaudaraan = brotherhood

sahabat = friend, buddy

persahabatan = friendship

5. ke- + adjective + -an

~ come from an adjective ( basically, it’s an adjective becoming a noun )

berani = brave

keberanian = braveness

aman = secure, safe

keamanan = safety, security

mudah = easy

kemudahan = easiness

~ originated from noun or number

uang = money

keuangan = monetary matters, finances

satu = one, singular

kesatuan =  unity

~ originated from verbs

hidup = to have life, to live

kehidupan = life , livelihood

ingin = to want, to wish,  to desire

keinginan = a wish, eagerness, a desire