Mengelabui

Mengelabui is a verb in Indonesian (and Malay) meaning to mislead or to blind with deception. It describes actions intended to create a false impression in another person’s perception or to obscure the truth. The sense can be literal, as in “mengelabui mata” (to blind or dazzle the eyes), or figurative, relating to information, appearances, or narratives.

Usage and nuance: Mengelabui is transitive; the entity being misled is typically the object. It often implies deliberate manipulation rather than a simple mistake. The term is commonly used in journalism, politics, advertising, and everyday speech to describe strategies that distort perception, whether through misrepresented data, selective framing, or misleading appearances.

Etymology and usage notes: The formation uses the prefix meng- attached to elabui, a base verb found in Indonesian and Malay. The expression is versatile and can pair with nouns like mata, pandangan, atau informasi, to indicate the type of perception being affected. It carries a stronger negative connotation than many neutral terms for lying, emphasizing the creation of a misleading impression rather than solely incorrect statements.

See also: Deception, misinformation, propaganda, manipulation, disinformation.

This concise overview covers the core meaning, typical usage, and semantic nuances of mengelabui in contemporary Indonesian and Malay, where it denotes intentional misdirection or misrepresentation designed to influence perception.