mustahil

Mustahil is an adjective used in Indonesian and Turkish to mean "impossible" or "unthinkable." It describes events, plans, or statements that cannot happen or are highly unlikely, and it is commonly found in everyday speech as well as in writing.

Etymology and cross-linguistic background: The term originates from Arabic مستحيل (mustahil), meaning "impossible." It entered Malay-Indonesian and Turkish through historical contact with Persian and Ottoman Turkish, and the form is retained in modern usage with local pronunciation in both languages.

Usage in Indonesian: In Indonesian, mustahil is a common word in daily language. It can modify verbs or clauses, as in "Itu mustahil dilakukan" (That is impossible to do), or describe improbable futures, "masa depan yang mustahil." It can also function with pronouns, for example "mustahil bagi saya" (it's impossible for me). Intensifiers such as sangat mustahil or hampir mustahil are used to emphasize improbability. The word appears widely in media, literature, and public discourse.

Usage in Turkish: In Turkish, mustahil is a standard adjective meaning "impossible" and is widely understood. It is used similarly to the English word in sentences such as "Bu iş mustahil" (This job is impossible). In more formal contexts, Turkish speakers may also use the synonym imkânsız. The term reflects the influence of Arabic and Ottoman Turkish on contemporary Turkish vocabulary.

Overall, mustahil functions as a common loanword in both languages, conveying the notion of impossibility across everyday and formal contexts.