mengatakan

Mengatakan is an Indonesian verb meaning “to say” or “to state.” It is formed from the root kata (to say) with the prefix me- and the suffix -kan, producing a transitive verb that takes a content clause as its object. The prefix undergoes assimilation before the initial consonant k, yielding bentuk meng- in say statements such as mengatakan.

In usage, mengatakan is common in both formal speech and written Indonesian, especially for reporting what someone has said. It is typically followed by a content clause introduced by bahwa (that) or by a direct object such as sesuatu (something). For example: Dia mengatakan bahwa dia akan datang. The clause structure is subject + mengatakan + content clause, although less formal speech may use berkata or simply kata with quotation marks.

Indonesian does not mark tense morphologically, so time reference is conveyed through context or adverbs (kemarin, nanti, segera). Saying versus stating nuance: mengatakan emphasizes the act of stating what was said, while berkata is more general and common in everyday speech, and menyatakan conveys a formal or official assertion. Related verbs include menyatakan (to declare or state formally) and menguraikan (to outline or explain), which can shift nuance toward specificity or formality.

Overall, mengatakan remains a standard, versatile term for reporting speech in Indonesian, with a more formal tone than berkata and broader applicability in narrative and journalistic writing.