Terlama

Terlama is a word used in the Indonesian language that denotes the superlative form of the adjective lama, meaning “old” or “long.” In its grammatical function, terlama is employed to describe the eldest, the longest-existing, or the most enduring among a group or in a sequence. The term is commonly found in everyday speech, literature, and formal writing when comparing the age or duration of objects, people, or institutions.

The structure of terlama follows the general pattern of Indonesian superlatives, where the prefix ter- is added to an adjective to express the highest degree of its quality. For lama, the formation results in terlama, with the resulting word being interpreted as “oldest,” “longest,” or “long-standing.” In this way, terlama can be used similarly to English superlatives such as “oldest” or “longest.” For example, in a sentence like “Eko adalah anak terlama di keluarganya,” the phrase conveys that Eko is the eldest child in his family.

Terlama can also appear in compound expressions, such as terlama digunakan (“the longest used”) or terlama hadir (“the longest present”), where it modifies verbs or nouns to emphasize duration. The word is widely recognized among native speakers and serves both as a linguistic marker and as a cultural reference point, particularly in contexts that discuss tradition, heritage, or history. Because of its versatile usage, terlama remains a fundamental component of descriptive Indonesian syntax.