memakai

Memakai is a verb used in Indonesian and Malay meaning to wear clothing or to use an object. It is transitive and typically takes a direct object, such as a garment or a tool, to indicate the thing involved in the action.

Etymology and form: Memakai is formed from the root word pakai (to use or to wear) with the prefix me-, which in Indonesian phonology often becomes mem- before a labial consonant like p. The result is a single word that denotes the act of putting on or employing something. The base form pakai remains common in casual speech, while memakai tends to be more formal or neutral in tone.

Usage notes: Memakai is commonly used for both clothing and accessories (memakai baju, memakai topi, memakai kacamata) and for using tools or substances (memakai sunscreen, memakai perangkat). In more formal contexts, or to emphasize method or means, Indonesian often prefers menggunakan rather than memakai. The related nouns pemakai means “wearer” or “user,” and pemakaian refers to the act of using or wearing, or to a usage period or adoption.

Examples: Dia memakai jaket putih. She is wearing a white jacket. Saya memakai jam tangan biru. I am wearing a blue watch. Mereka memakai sunscreen sebelum berangkat. They are using/applying sunscreen before leaving. Dalam teks formal, penggunaan menggunakan dapat dipilih: Dia menggunakan jasa ahli untuk pekerjaan itu.

See also: pakai, menggunakan, pemakai, pemakaian. The word appears in both Indonesian and Malay with similar meaning and usage, though regional preference may influence whether memakai or pakai is used in everyday speech.