Language/Indonesian/Grammar/Plurals
Hi Indonesian learners! 😊
In this lesson, we will be discussing Indonesian plurals. Plurals refer to more than one person, place, or thing. While in English, it is usually enough to just add an "s" at the end of a word to make it plural, Indonesian plurals work a little differently. Are you ready to learn? Let's get started!
After mastering this lesson, these related pages might interest you: Comaratives and Superlatives, Basic Grammar, Adjectives and Adverbs & Gender.
The Basics of Indonesian Plurals[edit | edit source]
In Indonesian, there are a few different ways to make a noun plural. Here are some of the basic rules:
- Add "s" or "es" at the end of the noun - Double the last consonant and add "i" before adding "kan" - Add "an" at the end of the noun
Let's take a look at some examples:
| Indonesian | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| rumah-rumah | /ˈru.mah ˈru.mah/ | houses |
| mobil-mobil | /mo.ˈbil mo.ˈbil/ | cars |
| merah-merah | /me.ˈɾah me.ˈɾah/ | red things |
| jari-jari | /ˈdʒa.ɾi ˈdʒa.ɾi/ | fingers |
As you can see, some plurals add a repetition of the word for emphasis. Keep in mind also that the Indonesian script does not use the letter "c" in plurals, as it is replaced by "ch", and "f" and "v" are not commonly used in Indonesian.
Using "Beberapa"[edit | edit source]
"Beberapa" means "some" in Indonesian, and is often used when talking about an unspecified quantity of something. Here's an example dialogue using "beberapa":
- Person 1: Ada berapa orang di sana? (How many people are there?)
- Person 2: Ada beberapa orang. (There are some people.)
Note how "beberapa" is used when the quantity is unknown. It can also be used when the speaker doesn't care to be specific about the number of something, similar to how we would use "some" in English.
Irregular Plurals[edit | edit source]
Like in English, there are also some irregular plurals in Indonesian. Here are a few examples:
| Indonesian | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| kaki | /ˈka.ki/ | feet |
| gigi | /ˈɡi.ɡi/ | teeth |
| mata | /ma.ˈta/ | eyes |
| telinga | /tɛ.ˈli.ŋa/ | ears |
It is important to memorize these irregular plurals, as they don't follow the basic rules we discussed previously.
Cultural Tidbits[edit | edit source]
Indonesian culture places a great value on community and togetherness. That's why many Indonesian words have both singular and plural forms. For instance, the word "keluarga" means "family" in Indonesian, but can also refer to one's extended family, and therefore take on a plural form. Similarly, the word "orang" means "person", but can also be used to refer to a group of people, such as in the phrase "orang tua" (parents).
Another cultural aspect to keep in mind is the use of honorifics in Indonesian language. When speaking to people who are older or more respected than you, it is important to use the proper pronoun and address them politely. For example, instead of saying "apa kabar kamu?" (how are you?), you would say "apa kabar Bapak/Ibu?" (how are you, sir/ma'am?).
Practice with Native Speakers[edit | edit source]
To improve your Indonesian Grammar, you can also use the Polyglot Club website. Find native speakers and ask them any questions!
Sources[edit | edit source]
➡ If you have any questions, please ask them in the comments section below.
➡ Feel free to edit this wiki page if you think it can be improved. 😎
Other Lessons[edit | edit source]
- Negation
- Comaratives and Superlatives
- Pronouns
- Imperative Tense
- Definite Articles in Indonesian
- How to Use Be
- How to Use Have
- Give your Opinion
- Why Learn Indonesian
- Conditional Mood