berlalu

Berlalu is an Indonesian verb that means to pass by or to elapse, especially in relation to time or events. It is commonly used to describe the progression of moments from the present toward the past, or the way events unfold over a period.

It is formed from the affix ber- attached to the root lalu, which carries meanings related to movement or passage. The construction is intransitive, typically with time or events as the subject, and does not take a direct object. The word often appears in expressions that denote completion or the passage of time.

Common usage examples include: waktu berlalu, timpality meaning time passes; Dua jam telah berlalu sejak upacara dimulai; Kejadian itu berlalu tanpa menimbulkan perubahan besar. In formal writing, phrasing such as telah berlalu or sudah berlalu can emphasize that the passage has completed.

Berlalu is distinct from melewati, which generally describes physical crossing or moving through a space. While both can convey progression, berlalu focuses on the passage of time or events, whereas melewati emphasizes movement through a place or along a route. The term remains common in news, literature, and everyday speech.