mengalami

Mengalami is an Indonesian and Malay verb meaning to experience, undergo, or suffer something. It expresses that the subject personally goes through a particular event, condition, or circumstance. The word can refer to physical incidents (such as injuries or accidents) as well as non-physical experiences (such as difficulties, changes, or emotions). While commonly neutral, it often conveys that the experience is involuntary or significant for the subject.

In terms of grammar, mengalami is a transitive verb formed with the prefix meN- attached to the root alami, and it can take various objects that denote what is being experienced. The active form is mengalami; the passive form is dialami, which is used when the experience is described as happening to the subject by someone or something else. Examples: "Dia mengalami kecelakaan" (He experienced an accident); "Beberapa rumah mengalami kebakaran" (Several houses experienced a fire); "Korban mengalami luka" (The victim sustained injuries).

Usage and nuance: Mengalami is widely used in everyday speech, journalism, and formal writing. It emphasizes the occurrence of an event rather than one's agency. It is not typically used for purely emotional states without a concrete event; for feelings, verbs like merasakan or merasa are common. Related terms include pengalama n (experience, as a noun), kejadian (event), and synonyms such as menjalani (to go through) and menghadapi (to face). Dialected or context-specific choices may alter formality or emphasis.

See also: pengalaman, kejadian, pengalaman hidup, dialami.