sebenar

Sebenar is a Malay word formed with the prefix se- attached to the adjective benar, meaning true or real. The prefix carries a sense of totality, completeness, or maximal degree, and it is used with adjectives to express notions such as “the real X” or “as X as possible.”

In modern usage, sebenar appears in several common constructions. The noun phrase kebenaran sebenar means “the real truth.” The form sebenar-benarnya or sebenarnya is used to emphasize actuality or factuality, roughly translating to “actually” or “in fact.” The word is found in both Malay and Indonesian, with similar meanings, though exact preferences for phrases can vary by dialect and register.

Notes on usage and nuance: pese to style, sebenar can be more common in formal or literary contexts, while sehari-hari speech often opts for sebenarnya to express factuality or actuality. The standalone form sebenar is less frequent and typically appears within set phrases such as kebenaran sebenar, rather than as a free-standing adjective.

Examples

- Kebenaran sebenar akhirnya terungkap. (The real truth finally emerged.)

- Laporan itu tidak sepenuhnya menyoroti kebenaran sebenar. (The report does not fully highlight the real truth.)

- Saya sebenarnya tidak tahu apa yang berlaku. (I actually don’t know what happened.)

See also

- kebenaran

- sebenarnya

- prefix se- in Malay and Indonesian grammar