Tautkan

Tautkan is an Indonesian verb meaning to make something taut or to tighten it. It is a causative form derived from the root taut, a loanword used in Indonesian to convey the sense of being stretched tight. In more formal Indonesian, the common term for tightening is mengencangkan, while tautkan is widely understood in everyday speech, especially in practical contexts involving ropes, strings, belts, or cables.

Etymology and usage notes: The word tautkan is generally treated as a transitive verb. It denotes causing an object to become taut or tightened. The usage is most frequent in mechanical or manual tasks, such as securing objects or adjusting tension in a line. In formal or technical writing, mengencangkan is often preferred, with tautkan appearing in instructional or colloquial contexts.

Typical contexts and examples: Tautkan tali sepatu sebelum berjalan. Tautkan kabel pada sambungan untuk mengurangi longgar. Tautkan sabuk pengaman agar tidak longgar saat berkendara. In these situations, the imperative form tautkan is used to instruct someone to perform the tightening action.

Limitations and alternatives: While understood, tautkan is less common in formal writing than mengencangkan or menegangkan. For abstract or figurative uses—such as tightening regulations or controls— Indonesian tends to favor mengencangkan or memperketat, rather than tautkan.

See also: mengencangkan, menegangkan, memperketat, taut.