Pingin

Pingin is an Indonesian verb meaning to want or to desire. It is a colloquial or informal variant of the standard word ingin and is widely used in everyday spoken Indonesian, especially in urban centers and among younger speakers.

Usage and context: Pingin expresses a personal wish or inclination and is typically followed by a noun or an infinitive verb, for example: Saya pingin makan nasi goreng, Dia pingin beli mobil baru, Saya pingin pergi ke Bali. It functions similarly to ingin in basic meaning, but it is less formal and more conversational. In negative constructions, speakers often say saya tidak pingin, though the neutral form saya tidak ingin is more appropriate in formal writing.

Register and variants: Pingin is part of a family of informal variants of ingin that also includes pengen. In formal writing or careful speech, ingin is preferred for clarity and formality. In casual speech, pingin and pengen are common and generally understood across Indonesian-speaking communities.

pronunciation and notes: Pingin is pronounced with a nasal final in -in, typically rendered as /piŋin/ in everyday speech. While widely understood, pingin may sound overly casual in formal settings, where ingin is recommended. It can also appear in casual media, advertisements, and conversations aimed at a youthful audience.

See also: ingin, pengen.