berakar

Berakar is an Indonesian verb meaning to have roots or to be rooted. It can describe both the physical rootedness of plants and the figurative rootedness of ideas, traditions, or institutions. The term implies that something has established origins or anchors in a place, culture, or history.

In botanical usage, berakar describes a plant whose root system is developed and functional, capable of anchoring the plant and absorbing water and nutrients. The related verb mengakar refers more to the act of taking root or the process of becoming established, as in a plant beginning to take hold in the soil or a movement becoming deeply established.

Metaphorically, berakar is widely used to express deep connection or persistence of cultural practices, languages, or communities. For example, a tradition can berakar in a region after many generations, or a community can be said to berakar in the landscape and social fabric of a place. The expression often connotes stability, continuity, and a sense of origin.

Etymology and grammar: berakar is formed from the noun akar (root) with the prefix ber-, which marks a state or quality of possessing a root. Related forms include mengakar, which denotes the act of taking root or becoming established.

Related terms: akar, mengakar.