Memiliki

Memiliki is an Indonesian verb meaning to have or possess. It is a transitive verb used with a direct object to indicate ownership of something, whether concrete or abstract. In everyday language, memiliki can express ownership by individuals, organizations, or groups, as in having assets, rights, or qualities.

Etymology and form: secara morfologis, memiliki is formed with the prefix me- attached to the root related to the concept of possession (milik/miliki). The word denotes the act or state of possessing something. It is distinct from related forms such as mempunyai, which also means to possess, and punya, which is more informal. Both memilki and mempunyai are standard, while punya is colloquial.

Grammar and usage: Indonesian verbs do not conjugate for person or number. Tense is indicated by adverbs or context rather than verb changes. Memiliki takes a direct object, for example: Dia memiliki sebuah rumah. Perusahaan itu memiliki lisensi penuh. Negation is formed with tidak: Saya tidak memiliki kendaraan. To express future or ongoing possession, add time expressions or auxiliary words: Dia akan memiliki hak penuh.

Common collocations and nuances: Memiliki often appears in formal writing and policy language, such as memiliki hak, memiliki kewajiban, atau memiliki aset. Punya and mempunyai are also common, with punya being informal and mempunyai a more literary or formal tone in some contexts.

See also: milik, hak, kepemilikan, punya, mempunyai.