genggam

Genggam is a word used in Indonesian and Malay with both a noun and a verb function. As a verb, genggam means to grasp or hold something firmly in the hand. The verb forms include menggenggam, which indicates the action of gripping, and the passive form digenggam, used when something is being held by someone or something else.

As a noun, genggam refers to a small amount that can be held in the hand, a handful, or the act of holding a grip. The related noun genggaman denotes the state or act of gripping, emphasizing the grasp itself rather than the object held.

In usage, genggam covers both physical actions and broader, metaphorical senses. It can describe a person gripping an object tightly, as well as more abstract holds, such as keeping control over ideas, plans, or possessions. It is common in everyday speech and in writing across Indonesian and Malay.

Morphology and grammar are similar in both languages. The active verb is formed with me- and the base genggam becomes menggenggam; the passive is digenggam. The base noun genggam remains unchanged, while genggaman is a related noun referring to the grip or grasp as a concept.

Notes on usage: both Indonesian and Malay speakers recognize genggam and menggenggam with the same core meanings, and the terms are widely understood in contemporary language. The word is versatile for describing physical grips as well as the notion of holding onto something in a figurative sense.