menunggu

Menunggu is a verb in Indonesian and Malay meaning to wait or to be waiting. It is used to describe the act of staying in one place or remaining in expectation until a specific time, event, person, or condition occurs. The term appears in everyday speech as well as formal writing, and it covers both delaying action and anticipatory waiting.

Etymology and morphology: menunggu is formed from the root tunggu (wait) with the prefix me- that attaches to the root and undergoes assimilation, yielding menunggu. This structure is typical of Indonesian and Malay verb formation, where many actions are built by adding a prefix to a root word. The word integrates smoothly with various objects, time expressions, and clauses that indicate what is being waited for.

Usage and grammar: menunggu is typically transitive, taking a direct object that indicates what is being waited for (for example, menunggu kabar, menunggu bus). It can express duration, as in saya menunggu lama (I waited for a long time), and it functions with time-related adverbs or phrases such as sejak, sampai, or pada waktu tertentu. The passive form ditunggu can be used to indicate that someone or something is being waited for (e.g., saya sudah ditunggu oleh teman).

Synonyms and nuances: a more formal or literary alternative is menanti, which often conveys anticipation or a stronger sense of looking forward to an event. Both Indonesian and Malay share similar usage patterns, with minor stylistic differences in certain contexts.

See also: ditunggu; penunggu (one who waits or a watcher); waiting and time expressions in Indonesian and Malay.