oleh

Oleh is a preposition used in Indonesian and Malay to mark the agent in a passive clause. It indicates who performs the action described by the verb when the sentence is in passive voice. For example, in Indonesian, "Lagu itu ditulis oleh Ani" translates to “The song was written by Ani.” Oleh can be used with both animate and inanimate agents, but it is more common in formal or written language. In everyday Indonesian, agents are often omitted, yielding passive forms without an explicit by‑phrase, or speakers may rephrase in active voice, e.g., "Ani menulis lagu itu."

Oleh-oleh is a compound noun derived from oleh and oleh-oleh meaning a souvenir or gift brought back from travel. It is widely used in Indonesia and Malaysia to refer to foods, crafts, or other items bought for friends and family during a trip. Examples include "oleh-oleh khas Bandung" or "oleh-oleh dari Jepang." The term shows how oleh functions within fixed expressions beyond its role as a preposition, yielding a distinct lexical item with its own meaning.

In usage across related languages, the preposition oleh serves a similar function in standard Malay, marking the agent in passive constructions. While its core meaning remains consistent, contexts can vary in formality and register. Overall, oleh and its related forms play a central role in Indonesian and Malay syntax and everyday vocabulary.