membutuhkanku

Membutuhkanku is an Indonesian verb form derived from the root butuh, meaning “to need.” It is built with the prefix me- to form a transitive verb, the suffix -kan to mark the action as directed, and the pronoun suffix -ku meaning “me.” The result is a single word that translates roughly to “to need me.”

Linguistically, membutuhkanku demonstrates Indonesian affixation patterns where a stative root can be extended with affixes to indicate agency and transitivity, with pronoun clitics attached to the verb. The -ku suffix marks the object as “me,” making the speaker the direct object of the action described by the verb. The combination of affixes does not change the basic word order of Indonesian, which remains subject–verb–object.

Usage in everyday language is primarily informal and often found in spoken Indonesian or in dramatic, rhetorical, or romantic contexts. It may appear in lyrics, memes, or casual conversation to emphasize reliance or dependency on the speaker. In formal writing, speakers typically avoid this exact form and use more neutral constructions such as saya dibutuhkan or dia membutuhkan saya to express the same idea.

Examples:

- Dia membutuhkanku. (He/She needs me.)

- Aku dibutuhkan oleh tim. (I am needed by the team.)

See also: butuh, me- prefix, Indonesian pronoun suffix -ku, Indonesian verb morphology.