terbesar

Terbesar is an Indonesian adjective meaning the biggest or the largest. It is the superlative form of besar (big), formed with the prefix ter- attached to the base adjective. In Indonesian, ter- is commonly used to express the highest degree of a property within a context or group, sometimes overlapping with the use of paling.

Usage and scope: Terbesar can describe physical size, extent, or magnitude, and can function as a modifier of a noun or as a predicate. Examples include gunung terbesar di dunia (the largest mountain in the world), rumah terbesar di kota itu (the biggest house in that city), or dia adalah orang terbesar di kelas (he is the biggest person in the class). In some contexts, alternatives like paling besar are used, especially for emphasis or stylistic reasons.

Limitations and variants: Not all adjectives form superlatives with ter-; some rely on irregular forms or alternative expressions (for example, terbaik from baik). The choice between ter- and paling may reflect formality, register, or clarity. Terbesar often conveys a definite ranking within a specified set or comparison, rather than an absolute universal measure.

Related concepts: The base adjective besar forms other extent words such as lebih besar (larger) in comparative constructions, while ter- generally marks the superlative. Related terms include besar, paling besar, and bentuk lain from the same morphological family.

See also: besar; paling besar; superlative in Indonesian grammar.