akhiran

Akhiran is the Indonesian term for a suffix, the ending element that attaches to a word stem to modify its meaning or grammatical function. It is one part of the broader concept imbuhan, which also includes prefixes (awalan) and infixes. Akhiran helps form new words and express relationships such as noun formation, verbal action, or directional and causative nuances, contributing to the flexibility of Indonesian morphology.

Common akhiran include -an, -kan, and -i. The suffix -an often forms nouns or abstract nouns from verbs or adjectives (makan → makanan, tulis → tulisan, tanam → tanaman). The suffix -kan frequently derives transitive verbs or causatives (ajar → ajarkan, hantar → hantarkan, bawakan) and can also participate in noun formation in some cases. The suffix -i generally yields verbs with a transitive sense or marks an action directed at an object (tanda → tandai). The exact choice of suffix depends on the root, the intended meaning, and phonological fit.

Etymologically, the word akhiran itself is built from the root akhir meaning end, with the suffix -an to denote “the ending” or “the suffix.” In linguistic education and description, akhiran is introduced together with awalan as a fundamental aspect of Indonesian word formation and grammar.

See also: awalan, infiks, imbuhan, morfem.