Terperosok

Terperosok is a term used in Indonesian that literally translates to “to sink” or “to be submerged.” It is commonly applied to describe objects or people that have fallen into a liquid, especially water, and are unable to surface easily. The word is a compound of the prefix ter‑, which indicates a completed action, and the root perosok, which originates from the verb "rosok" meaning “to sink.” This construction follows typical Indonesian morphological patterns for perfective verbs, denoting an event that has already occurred.

In everyday speech, terperosok is often used in dialogue about drownings or situations where someone or something becomes trapped under water. It is also used figuratively to describe being stuck in a job, situation, or emotional state, though this figurative usage is less common than its literal sense. For instance, a swimmer might say, “Aku terperosok ketika ombak tua menampaknya.” In literature, the term appears in accounts of natural disasters, such as floods or tsunamis, and in vivid descriptions of maritime accidents.

The Indonesian Dictionary (Kamus Besar Bahasa Indonesia) records terperosok as a verb with the meaning “to have sunk” and includes examples of its use in formal and informal contexts. In legal and medical reports, the word may appear when detailing causes of death or circumstances of an incident. The term’s usage is largely descriptive, focusing on the state of being submerged rather than the act of sinking itself.