Let's begin with the most common and versatile prefix in Malay: `me-`. Its main job is to turn a root word into an **active verb**, indicating that the subject is the one performing the action.
By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:
The `me-` prefix attaches to a root word (often a noun or a base action) to create a verb that means "to do" that action. Think of it as turning "read" into "to read" or "a drawing" into "to draw".
Important: The prefix `me-` has several different spellings (`me-`, `mem-`, `men-`, `meng-`, `meny-`) depending on the first letter of the root word. We will cover those spelling rules in the next chapter. For now, just focus on recognizing the pattern and understanding the meaning.
| Root Word (`kata dasar`) | Meaning | `me-` Verb | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| baca | read | membaca | to read |
| tulis | write | menulis | to write |
| masak | cook | memasak | to cook |
| dengar | hear | mendengar | to hear/listen |
| lukis | draw/a drawing | melukis | to draw |
| ambil | take | mengambil | to take |
You've probably noticed that we've been using root words as verbs until now (e.g., `Saya makan nasi`). Was that wrong? Not at all!
In informal, everyday conversation, the `me-` prefix is often dropped for very common verbs. The formal or written form, however, almost always uses the full `me-` verb.
| Casual Speech | Formal / Written | English |
|---|---|---|
| Saya baca buku. | Saya membaca buku. | I read a book. |
| Dia masak apa? | Apakah yang dia memasak? | What is he/she cooking? |
| Awak tulis surat? | Adakah awak menulis surat? | Are you writing a letter? |
Your Goal: Be able to recognize the `me-` verbs when you see them in writing, and don't be afraid to use the simpler root verb when you speak.
Get familiar with recognizing and using `me-` verbs.
Import Chapter 24 Flashcards(Requires login to import/study)
For each sentence, identify the root word (`kata dasar`) of the bolded verb.
Create a sentence using the given subject and the full `me-` verb form.
A description of a family's Sunday activities.
Pada hari Ahad, keluarga saya tidak bekerja. Bapa saya membaca surat khabar di ruang tamu. Ibu saya pula sedang memasak sarapan di dapur. Dia menggoreng telur dan sosej. (...ee-boo sah-yah pu-la suh-dahng muh-mah-sahk sah-rah-pahn dee dah-poor. dee-ah muhng-goh-reng tuh-loor dahn soh-sej.)
Abang saya, Farid, suka melukis. Dia melukis gambar kereta di biliknya. Saya pula menolong ibu di dapur. Selepas itu, kami semua makan bersama. (...sah-yah pu-la muh-noh-long ee-boo dee dah-poor. suh-luh-pahs ee-too, kah-mee suh-moo-ah mah-kahn bur-sah-mah.)
On Sunday, my family does not work. My father reads the newspaper in the living room. My mother, meanwhile, is cooking breakfast in the kitchen. She is frying eggs and sausages.
My older brother, Farid, likes to draw. He is drawing a picture of a car in his room. I, on the other hand, am helping mother in the kitchen. After that, we all eat together.
Bagus! You now understand the role of the `me-` prefix. But why does `baca` become `membaca` while `tulis` becomes `menulis`? In the next chapter, we will dive into the Perubahan Bunyi dengan 'me-' (Sound Changes with 'me-') and learn the simple rules that govern these spelling changes.