berkata

Berkata is an Indonesian verb meaning to say or to speak, especially in the sense of uttering words or giving an expression. It is used to indicate that someone has spoken or stated something, often in the context of reported speech. The verb is formed by attaching the prefix ber- to the root kata, which means word. Thus, berkata describes the act of speaking rather than simply possessing words.

In usage, berkata is commonly employed with direct or indirect quotation. For direct speech, Indonesian typically uses quotation marks and the verb berkata or another reporting verb, as in Dia berkata, "Saya akan datang." For indirect speech, the form katanya is frequently used to indicate what someone reportedly said, without quoting them verbatim. Indonesian does not conjugate verbs for tense; time reference is conveyed through adverbs or context.

Etymology and morphology: The ber- prefix creates an active or stative verb from the noun root kata (word). This pattern of prefixation is common in Indonesian and Malay, producing verbs that describe actions performed by the subject.

See also: The related noun perkataan means a spoken statement or utterance, while kata means a word. Other verbs related to speech include mengatakan (to say), menyatakan (to state), and menyebut (to mention).

Summary: Berkata is a core Indonesian verb for speaking or saying, routinely used in both direct and indirect speech. Its meaning centers on the act of uttering words, with tense and aspect supplied by context rather than verb inflection.