Terlambatkan

Terlambatkan is an Indonesian verb formed from the base lambat (late) with the causative suffix -kan and the prefix ter-, which marks a passive or involuntary state. The word is used to express that something has been caused to be late or that a delay has affected an item or process. As a transitive verb in its passive sense, it often appears in formal or administrative contexts.

Etymology and grammar: The prefix ter- gives a passive or experiential nuance, while -kan functions as a causative or transitive marker. The combination ter-lambat-kan conveys that an action or factor has produced a delay, resulting in the affected object being late. The form can be used with or without an explicit agent, though when the agent is mentioned, it is typically introduced by oleh (by).

Usage: Terlambatkan is more common in formal writing, reports, or news-style sentences than in everyday speech. It describes the outcome of a delaying action rather than simply stating lateness. In many contexts, the shorter terlambat or terlambatnya may be preferred to describe lateness directly, while terlambatkan emphasizes the causation of the delay.

Examples:

- Pengiriman itu terlambatkan akibat gangguan logistik. (The shipment was delayed due to logistic problems.)

- Proyek tersebut telah terlambatkan jadwalnya oleh perubahan regulasi. (That project’s schedule has been delayed by regulatory changes.)

- Rapat hari ini terlambatkan oleh keterlambatan kehadiran peserta.

Related terms include melambatkan (to slow down or cause to slow down) and keterlambatan (delay). Terlambatkan thus occupies a niche niche as a passive, causative form indicating that lateness has been caused or produced.