hendak

Hendak is a verb in Indonesian and Malay meaning to intend, to want, or to wish. It signals the speaker’s intention or planned action and is used in both formal and everyday language. The base form is typically followed by another verb in its bare form, as in "Saya hendak pergi" (I intend to go) or "Dia hendak membeli buku" (He wants to buy a book). The expression can convey determination or a concrete plan.

Common derived forms include menghendaki, which means to desire, wish, or require, and is used in formal or official writing. The noun kehendak means will, intention, or wish, illustrating the close link between desire and intention within the same verbal family.

In terms of nuance, hendak sits between ingin (to wish) and mau (to want) and tends to be more formal or literary. It can also carry a sense of obligation when used with certain constructions, such as hendaklah, which expresses a strong suggestion or requirement: "Hendaklah kamu datang tepat waktu" (You should come on time).

Etymology traces hendak to native Malay-Indonesian roots and it is found across Malayic languages. Its related forms, such as kehendak and menghendaki, show how the core idea of will or intention scales into different grammatical functions.

See also: kehendak; menghendaki; hendaklah.