ketahui

Ketahui is a linguistic term found in Malay and Indonesian language discussions, referring to a verbal form related to the root tahu, which means “to know.” In everyday Indonesian, ketahui is not used as a free-standing verb in the way that mengetahui or diketahui are used; it functions more as a bound form or appears in certain formal or archaic expressions. The term is sometimes encountered in descriptive grammars to explain how the language derives different facets of the concept of knowledge from the root tahu.

Etymology and morphology. Ketahui is formed from the root tahu with affixes that indicate a knowledge-related state or action. In contemporary usage, Indonesian normally expresses “to know” with the verb mengetahui (to come to know) or with the passive form diketahui (to be known). Ketahui may be discussed in linguistic texts as a historical or stylistic variant that appears in older texts or in fixed phrases, and it is sometimes linked to imperative or exhortative contexts in traditional writing.

Usage notes. In modern standard Indonesian, ketahui as a standalone verb is rare; speakers typically use mengetahui for active knowledge or diketahui for passive knowledge. Ketahui may be noted in grammar discussions to illustrate how affixes interact with the root tahu, or to describe formal or archaic styles found in literature, poetry, or historical documents. When encountered in contemporary Indonesian, it often signals a traditional or ceremonial register rather than everyday speech.

See also. Indonesian language, Malay language, tahu, mengetahui, diketahui, ketahuilah.