memberi

Memberi is an Indonesian verb meaning to give or to provide something to someone. It is a transitive verb that typically takes both the thing given and a recipient, often expressed with the preposition kepada (to) or untuk (for).

Grammar and usage

In standard sentences, the structure is Subject + memberi + [thing] + kepada/untuk + [recipient]. For example: Saya memberi buku kepada dia. Dia memberi hadiah untuk adiknya. The recipient can be explicit with kepada, or the phrase can use untuk to indicate beneficiary. Indonesian also allows passive forms of memberi, such as Hadiah itu telah diberi oleh temannya, meaning the gift has been given by a friend.

Related forms and derivations

The noun forms related to the act of giving include pemberi (giver) and pemberian (gift or act of giving). The opposite concept, receiving, is expressed with penerima (recipient). A closely related verb is memberikan, which is more formal or emphatic than memberi but shares the same core meaning.

Notes on nuance

Memberi can be used in a wide range of contexts, from everyday exchanges to formal or ceremonial gifts. While memberi and memberikan are largely interchangeable, memberikan can sound more formal in written or official language. Either form commonly collocates with concrete objects (hadiah, buku, uang) or abstract offerings (harapan, perhatian).

See also

Pemberian, pemberi, penerima, memberikan, berikan.