Prefix me(N)- in Indonesian

Overview

The prefix me(N)- is one of the most important and frequently used affixes in Indonesian. It marks the active voice and is characteristic of formal and written Indonesian. In casual speech, the prefix is often dropped (you say makan instead of memakan), but understanding it is essential for reading, writing, and formal communication.

The "(N)" in me(N)- represents a nasal consonant that changes form depending on the first letter of the root word. This process, called nasal assimilation, follows regular rules that become second nature with practice. For example, tulis (write) becomes menulis, baca (read) becomes membaca, and kirim (send) becomes mengirim.

How It Works

Nasal Assimilation Rules

Root starts with	Prefix becomes	Root consonant	Example
p	mem-	p drops	pukul → memukul (to hit)
b	mem-	b stays	baca → membaca (to read)
t	men-	t drops	tulis → menulis (to write)
d	men-	d stays	datang → mendatangi (to visit)
c	men-	c stays	cari → mencari (to look for)
j	men-	j stays	jual → menjual (to sell)
k	meng-	k drops	kirim → mengirim (to send)
g	meng-	g stays	gali → menggali (to dig)
h, vowel	meng-	stays	ambil → mengambil (to take)
s	meny-	s drops	simpan → menyimpan (to keep)
l, m, n, r, w, y	me-	stays	lihat → melihat (to see)

When to Use me(N)-

Context	Use me(N)-	Example
Formal writing	Yes	Saya membaca buku.
News/media	Yes	Pemerintah mengumumkan...
Casual speech	Optional	Saya baca buku.
With suffixes -kan/-i	Yes	memberikan, mengunjungi

Examples in Context

Indonesian	English	Note
Saya membaca buku.	I read a book.	mem- + baca
Dia menulis surat.	He/She writes a letter.	men- + tulis (t drops)
Mereka membangun rumah.	They build a house.	mem- + bangun
Kami mempelajari bahasa.	We study language.	mem- + pelajari (p drops)
Ibu memasak di dapur.	Mother cooks in the kitchen.	me- + masak
Dia mencari pekerjaan.	He is looking for work.	men- + cari
Mereka menjual rumah.	They are selling the house.	men- + jual
Saya mengambil tas.	I take the bag.	meng- + ambil
Dia menyimpan uang.	She saves money.	meny- + simpan (s drops)
Kami melihat gunung.	We see the mountain.	me- + lihat

Common Mistakes

Forgetting to drop the root consonant

• Wrong: memtulis or menttulis
• Right: menulis (t drops when men- is added)
• Why: When the prefix nasal replaces the consonant position (p, t, k, s), the original consonant drops.

Using me(N)- in casual speech when it sounds unnatural

• Wrong: Always using Saya memakan nasi in conversation
• Right: Saya makan nasi is natural in casual speech
• Why: The prefix is standard in writing and formal speech but often dropped in daily conversation.

Applying the wrong nasal

• Wrong: menbaca instead of membaca
• Right: membaca (b takes mem-)
• Why: The nasal must match the point of articulation: m before b/p, n before t/d/c/j, ng before k/g/vowels, ny before s.

Usage Notes

The me(N)- prefix is a hallmark of formal Indonesian. In news articles, official documents, and academic writing, it is used consistently. In everyday speech, especially in Jakarta and urban areas, it is commonly omitted. Knowing when to use it and when to drop it is a key register skill. As a learner, you should be able to recognize and produce me(N)- forms, but do not feel pressure to use them in casual conversation.

Practice Tips

1. Take common verbs and practice adding me(N)-: tulis → menulis, baca → membaca, kirim → mengirim. Focus on which consonants drop and which stay.
2. Read an Indonesian news article and highlight all the me(N)- verbs. Notice how consistently the prefix is used in formal writing.

Related Concepts

• Prefix di- (Passive) — the passive counterpart to me(N)-
• Prefix ter- — accidental/superlative prefix
• Suffixes -kan and -i — verb suffixes that combine with me(N)-
• Prefix pe(N)- (Nouns) — the noun-forming counterpart
• Formal Indonesian — register where me(N)- is standard
• Prefix se- — another common prefix