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Affixes - Noun affixes

Last updated on: 14 Apr 2026

Noun affixes are affixes that form nouns upon addition to root words.

Prefix
Pe(r)- / Pen(g)- Used to indicate the "doer" or a person.
Pekerja: Worker / Employee
Pengerusi: Chairperson (from kerusi - chair)
Ke- Typically used to form abstract nouns or indicate desire/necessity with certain roots.
Kehendak: Desire (from hendak - want)
Kekasih: Lover (from kasih - love)
Juru- A prefix for professional titles or experts in a specific field.
Juruwang: Cashier (from wang - money)
Juruterbang: Pilot (from terbang - fly)
Infix
-⟨el⟩- Telunjuk (Index finger; from tunjuk - point)
-⟨em⟩- Kemelut (Crisis/Chaos; from kelut - dishevelled)
-⟨er⟩- Gerigi (Toothed blade/Serrated; from gigi - teeth)
Suffix
-an Creates a noun representing the result or object of an action.
Ajaran: Teachings (from ajar - teach)
Bangunan: Building (from bangun - wake up/rise)
Circumfix
Ke-...-an Creates abstract nouns representing a state, quality, or a collective entity.
Kerajaan: Kingdom / Government (from raja - king)
Kesejahteraan: Prosperity / Wellbeing (from sejahtera - prosperous)
Per-...-an / Peng-...-an Often used to describe a process or the result of a process.
Pekerjaan: Occupation / Job (from kerja)
Pengerjaan: The process of working / Execution (from kerja)
Pelajaran: Subject / Education (from ajar)

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