Terlambat

Terlambat is an Indonesian word that functions as an adjective meaning late or delayed. It is formed from the root lambat (late) with the prefix ter-, which in Indonesian often marks a state resulting from an action or condition. As such, terlambat describes someone or something that arrives after the expected time or misses a deadline, rather than describing the act of delaying itself.

In usage, terlambat can describe people, actions, or events. For example, a person may say, "Saya terlambat datang ke rapat" (I am late for the meeting), or a transportation delay: "Pesawat itu terlambat satu jam." It can also modify nouns in phrases such as "terlambat hadir," "terlambat membayar," or "terlambat tiba." The adverbial counterpart is often expressed with the root telat in informal speech, but terlambat is common in neutral or formal contexts.

The noun form keterlambatan exists to denote the concept of lateness or delay, as in "keterlambatan pengiriman" (delivery delay) or "keterlambatan pembayaran" (late payment). Related terms include lambat (slow) and telat, the latter being more colloquial or widely used in everyday conversation.

Common contexts for terlambat include transportation, schedules, education, and administrative processes, where lateness can have practical consequences or require explanations. While terlambat emphasizes the state of being late, actions that cause delay are often described with related verbs or nouns, such as terlambatkan (to cause to be late) or keterlambatan (the lateness itself).