Prefix di- (Passive) in Indonesian

Overview

The prefix di- creates passive voice in Indonesian, and passive constructions are actually more common in Indonesian than in English. Where English speakers might say "I read the book," Indonesian frequently prefers Buku itu dibaca (The book is/was read). Understanding di- passive is crucial because you will encounter it constantly in both spoken and written Indonesian.

The passive with di- is straightforward: attach di- to the verb root, and optionally add the agent with oleh (by). Dibaca means "is read," ditulis means "is written," dimakan means "is eaten." The agent (who does the action) can be mentioned with oleh or simply omitted.

How It Works

Formation

Active (me(N)-)	Passive (di-)	English
membaca	dibaca	is read
menulis	ditulis	is written
memakan	dimakan	is eaten
membeli	dibeli	is bought
menjual	dijual	is sold
mengambil	diambil	is taken

With and Without Agent

Pattern	Example	English
Object + di-verb	Buku dibaca.	The book is read.
Object + di-verb + oleh + agent	Buku dibaca oleh saya.	The book is read by me.
Object + di-verb + agent (no oleh)	Surat ditulis guru.	The letter was written by the teacher.

When to Use Passive

Situation	Example
Focus on the object	Rumah itu dijual. (The house was sold.)
Agent is unknown	Dompet saya dicuri. (My wallet was stolen.)
Formal/written style	Keputusan diambil kemarin. (The decision was made yesterday.)
General statements	Bahasa Indonesia digunakan di Asia. (Indonesian is used in Asia.)

Examples in Context

Indonesian	English	Note
Buku itu dibaca oleh saya.	The book is read by me.	With agent
Surat ditulis kemarin.	The letter was written yesterday.	Agent omitted
Rumah itu dijual.	The house was sold.	Agent unknown
Bahasa Indonesia digunakan.	Indonesian is used.	General statement
Nasi sudah dimasak.	The rice has been cooked.	With time marker
Pintu dibuka.	The door was opened.	Simple passive
Dia dipanggil kepala sekolah.	He was called by the principal.	Agent without oleh
Uang itu akan disimpan.	The money will be saved.	Future passive
Proyek ini sedang dikerjakan.	This project is being worked on.	Progressive passive
Masalah itu sudah diselesaikan.	That problem has been solved.	Completed passive

Common Mistakes

Confusing di- (prefix) with di (preposition)

• Wrong: Writing di baca (with a space) for passive
• Right: dibaca (no space) — passive prefix is attached
• Why: di- as a passive prefix is joined to the verb. di as a preposition (di rumah) is written separately.

Overusing oleh

• Wrong: Always using oleh when the agent is clear
• Right: Surat ditulis guru. (oleh is optional when the agent follows directly)
• Why: Oleh is often omitted in casual speech when the agent is mentioned right after the verb.

Using di- passive when Type 2 passive is more natural

• Wrong: Buku itu dibaca oleh saya. (in casual speech)
• Right: Buku itu saya baca. (Type 2 passive — more conversational)
• Why: With first/second person agents, Type 2 passive (pronoun + root verb) is more natural in speech.

Usage Notes

Passive voice is not considered weak or wordy in Indonesian, unlike in English writing guides. Indonesian naturally gravitates toward passive constructions, especially when the object/topic is the focus of conversation. News articles and formal writing use di- passive extensively. As a learner, embrace the passive — it will make your Indonesian sound more natural.

Practice Tips

1. Take active sentences and convert them to passive: Saya membaca buku → Buku dibaca (oleh saya). Practice with several common verbs.
2. Read Indonesian news headlines — most use passive constructions. Identify the di- verbs and figure out what the implied agent is.

Related Concepts

• Prefix me(N)- — the active voice counterpart
• Type 2 Passive — conversational passive with pronoun agents
• Formal Passive and Impersonal — advanced formal passive patterns
• Advanced Passive Constructions — extended passive with kena and terkena