Easy Indonesian. Thomas G. Oey, Ph.D.

Plural forms

      Singular or plural forms of nouns are not normally distinguished, and the same form is used for both. Singular or plural are indicated instead by the context, or through the use of other words such as “all,” “many,” etc.

      Semua orang senang. All the people were pleased.

      Banyak turis datang. Many tourists arrived.

      Reduplicating a noun may emphasize that it is plural:

      anak-anak (also written anak2) children

      buku-buku books

      However, reduplication often carries the meaning “a variety of.” It is also used to create new words with very different meanings from the simple forms. It is best therefore to avoid reduplication to indicate the plural unless you know what you are saying.

      mata eye mata-mata spy

      semata-mata only, exclusively

      Para indicates plural for persons, often in a formal context:

      para penumpang passengers

      para penonton viewers

      Note: More information concerning noun formation using prefixes and suffixes is given at the back of this book.

      2.10

       Classifier words

      A number cannot be placed before many Indonesian nouns without the use of certain “classifier words” between the number and the noun. This is like the use of words in English such as “two pieces of cake” or “three sheets of paper,” etc. Some of the more common classifiers are listed below.

      batang (lit: “trunk”) used for cigarettes, trees, etc.: sepuluh batang rokok ten cigarettes

      biji (lit: “seed”) used for small objects; in slang, a counter for any object

      buah (lit: “fruit”) used for larger and abstract things; or a general counter for inanimate objects