mencintai

Mencintai is an Indonesian verb meaning to love, in a deep and enduring sense. It is a transitive verb that takes a direct object, as in Saya mencintai keluargaku or Dia mencintai kekasihnya. The action implies a meaningful emotional commitment beyond casual liking.

Formation and usage notes: Mencintai is formed from the noun cinta (love) with the verb prefix meN- and the suffix -i, following standard Indonesian affixation rules. The word is used across formal and informal registers and can describe romantic love as well as love for family, friends, or country: Saya mencintai keluargaku; Mereka mencintai negaranya.

Nuance and alternatives: Mencintai conveys a stronger emotional attachment than words like suka or sayang. In some contexts, especially religious or literary ones, mengasihi is used as a close synonym emphasizing care and compassion. While mencintai emphasizes passion and commitment, mengasihi foregrounds tenderness and benevolence; both can appear in similar contexts with subtle differences in tone.

Examples: Aku mencintaimu. Dia mencintai keluarganya. Kami mencintai negara kami.

See also: cinta; mengasihi; kasih; sayang.