menyenggol

Menyenggol is an Indonesian verb meaning to touch or brush against someone or something lightly, usually with a part of the body such as the shoulder, arm, or hip. The action is often a physical contact that occurs in crowded spaces or when passing by others, and it can be either accidental or intentional, depending on context.

Etymology and form: The word comes from senggol, meaning a light push or nudge. When prefixed with me-, the form becomes menyenggol, with a phonological change from senggol to nyenggol to ease pronunciation. The prefix indicates that a person performs the action of nudging or brushing against.

Usage and contexts: In everyday language, menyenggol describes casual or accidental contact in situations like crowded transit, queues, or narrow hallways. It can also refer to touching someone in a non-verbal way to make space or avoid a collision. Beyond the literal sense, the term can appear in figurative uses, such as bringing up a topic indirectly or making a light, suggestive approach in social interactions. In urban slang or informal speech, related forms like nyenggol may be used to imply a light attempt to gain attention or to flirt, though such use varies by speaker and region.

Notes: Mengyenggol is a common, neutral term in Indonesian. Its interpretation depends on context, tone, and relationship between speakers, ranging from ordinary physical contact to more casual or metaphorical senses.