berselera

Berselera is a verb used in Indonesian and Malay to describe having an appetite or a readiness to eat, often implying that someone eats with gusto. It can also be used in a broader sense to denote a person’s taste or preference for something.

Etymology and form: The word is built from the noun selera, meaning appetite, taste, or preference, with the prefix ber- that marks a state or condition. The ber- plus selera construction is common in both languages for describing a quality a person possesses at a given time.

Usage: Berselera is typically attached to makan (eat) or minum (drink). For example, Dia berselera makan nasi goreng can be translated as “He has an appetite for eating fried rice” or more naturally, “He eats with a good appetite.” The phrase may also occur in broader contexts to express readiness or enthusiasm for consuming something, such as a meal or a drink, depending on the surrounding wording.

Figurative use: Beyond literal hunger, berselera can reflect a person’s taste or preference. In some contexts, it appears in expressions that convey refined or strong tastes, though more common Indonesian phrases emphasize selera or berselera tinggi to denote good or refined taste.

See also: selera. While berselera primarily describes appetite, its related noun selera covers taste, preference, and liking, forming a common linguistic pair in everyday usage.