kenalan

Kenalan is an Indonesian term that can refer to the act of getting to know someone or to a person one has met. It is used in casual and semi-formal contexts. The term is often used when initiating social contact, for example, “Ayo kita kenalan,” meaning “Let’s get acquainted.”

Etymology: Kenalan is derived from the root kenal, meaning to know, with the noun-forming suffix -an. The related verb berkenalan means to begin the process of getting acquainted, and perkenalan refers to the act of introducing or an introduction, such as an introductory event.

Usage: As a verb, people say “saya ingin berkenalan dengan Anda” or “ayo kenalan.” As a noun, “ini kenalan saya” or “kenalan lama” refer to an acquaintance or “new acquaintance.” In formal situations, an explicit introduction might use “perkenalkan nama Anda” rather than “kenalkan saya.”

Cultural note: In Indonesian social practice, introductions are common when meeting colleagues, classmates, or new neighbors; greetings and self-introductions are considered courteous. The phrase structure typically uses berkenalan, kenalan dengan, or perkenalan depending on the function in the sentence.

See also: Related terms include berkenalan, perkenalan, and kenal.