Nyatakan

Nyatakan is a verb used in Indonesia and Malay to mean to declare, state, or express something in a formal or explicit way. It is commonly found in official, legal, or argumentative contexts where a claim or position is being presented as true or binding.

Etymology and usage notes

Nyatakan derives from the adjective nyata (real, true) with the suffix -kan, giving a sense of making something real or making it be regarded as true. In standard Indonesian, the more common form for the act of declaring is menyatakan, which is built with the prefix me- and the suffix -kan; nyatakan often appears as the imperative form or in more formal or literary uses. In Malay, nyatakan is widely understood and used in similar contexts to express stating or declaring a position.

Grammatical behavior and examples

Nyatakan is a transitive verb and typically takes a direct object, such as pendapat, komitmen, or dukungan. Examples:

- Mereka menyatakan dukungan terhadap proposal itu.

- Pemerintah menyatakan komitmennya untuk reformasi.

- Nyatakan pendapat Anda mengenai rencana itu. (imperative form)

In written or formal Indonesian, menyatakan is the more common form for the declarative act, while nyatakan appears mainly in commands or higher-register language. The related noun forms are penyataan and pernyataan, both referring to a statement or declaration, sometimes with slightly different nuances.

See also

Related terms include menyatakan (to declare), mengungkapkan (to reveal or express), menegaskan (to assert), dan pernyataan or penyataan (a statement or declaration). Nyatakan is one facet of expressing formal positions in Indonesian and Malay.