You already know Indonesian builds words with prefixes like ber-, me-, and pe-. Now meet the other half of the system: suffixes — endings that transform root words into commands, results, places, and things.
Two suffixes handle most of the heavy lifting: -kan and -an.
The -Kan Suffix: "Do It (to Something)"
-Kan turns adjectives and verbs into transitive commands — actions done to an object:
Adjective → "Make It [Adjective]"
- Bersih (clean) → Bersihkan (clean it!) — as in "bisa tolong bersihkan kamar?" from Module 12
- Panas (hot) → Panaskan (heat it up)
- Dingin (cold) → Dinginkan (cool it down)
- Besar (big) → Besarkan (enlarge / make bigger)
- Kecil (small) → Kecilkan (make smaller / turn down)
So when your music is too loud, an Indonesian might say: "Kecilkan musiknya!" (Turn down the music!)
Verb → "Do It (for/to Something)"
- Ambil (take) → Ambilkan (fetch it / get it for someone)
- Buka (open) → Bukakan (open it for someone)
- Tutup (close) → Tutupkan (close it)
- Masak (cook) → Masakkan (cook something for someone)
Notice the pattern: -kan often adds the sense of doing something for someone else or to an object.
The -An Suffix: "The Result / The Thing"
-An turns verbs into nouns — the result or product of the action:
- Makan (eat) → Makanan (food — the thing you eat)
- Minum (drink) → Minuman (a drink — the thing you drink)
- Tulis (write) → Tulisan (writing — the thing written)
- Bangun (build) → Bangunan (a building — the thing built)
- Jalan (walk/road) → Jalanan (streets — the roads collectively)
- Larang (forbid) → Larangan (a prohibition — the thing forbidden)
This is incredibly productive. Once you know the verb, you can often guess the -an noun.
-An for Places and Collections
-An can also indicate a place or collection:
- Kubur (bury) → Kuburan (cemetery — the burying place)
- Lautan (ocean — from "laut," sea)
- Hutan (forest — from a root meaning "wild")
Combining Prefixes AND Suffixes
The real power comes when you use both:
- Per- + jalan + -an → Perjalanan (journey/trip)
- Peng- + ajar + -an → Pengajaran (teaching — the act of)
- Per- + temu + -an → Pertemuan (meeting — the act of meeting)
- Ke- + senang + -an → Kesenangan (pleasure/happiness)
- Ke- + sakit + -an → Kesakitan (in pain / suffering)
Words You Already Know, Decoded
Look at familiar vocabulary with new eyes:
- Bersihkan (Module 12) = bersih + -kan = make clean / clean it
- Makanan (food) = makan + -an = the thing you eat
- Minuman (drink) = minum + -an = the thing you drink
- Perjalanan (journey) = per + jalan + -an = the going
The Practical Power
Suffixes let you improvise. If you know a root word but not its noun form, try adding -an. If you need to turn a description into a command, try adding -kan. You'll be right more often than not.
For example: you know "panas" (hot) from Module 10. Need to say "heat it up"? Try "panaskan." Correct!
You know "tulis" (write). Need to say "writing" or "a written piece"? Try "tulisan." Correct!
This isn't guessing — it's understanding the system. And that's how fluency builds.
Discover more word patterns across our lesson modules!