Bersilang

Bersilang is an Indonesian and Malay verb derived from the root silang, meaning "cross" or "intersect." The prefix ber- forms an intransitive verb that denotes the action or state of crossing, intersecting, or being crossed. In everyday usage it describes physical intersections (for example, roads or lines that meet), bodily postures (such as arms or legs being crossed), and figurative crossings, including disagreements or conflicting views.

In language and idiom, bersilang appears in phrases like bersilang pendapat, which denotes differing or conflicting opinions, and jalan yang bersilang for streets or paths that intersect. The related noun persilangan is commonly used in technical contexts to refer to crossings or crossbreeding. In biological contexts, persilangan typically denotes hybridization or genetic crossing, while bersilang may describe the action of organisms crossing but is less formal.

Bersilang can also be used in metaphoric or literary senses to convey intersection of fates, timelines, or influences. Its usage is shaped by context and collocation: some domains prefer alternative forms or nouns (e.g., persilangan in agriculture and genetics, persimpangan for road intersections). As a common verb in Malay and Indonesian, bersilang reflects both literal and figurative notions of crossing and intersection within everyday speech and written registers.