tersesat

Tersesat is an Indonesian term meaning to be lost or misdirected, typically describing a person who cannot determine their location or path. It can refer to physical disorientation, such as being lost in a forest, on unfamiliar streets, or at sea, as well as figurative confusion, including moral or ideological misdirection. The word derives from sesat (astray) with the prefix ter-, forming a state or condition.

In everyday usage, tersesat is common in discussions of travel, hiking, and navigation. In outdoor contexts, causes include poor visibility, complex terrain, misleading trails, or insufficient preparation. In urban settings, it can result from dense street networks, language barriers, or poor signage.

Associated risks include fatigue, dehydration, or exposure, particularly in wilderness areas. Practical safety advice emphasizes staying calm, avoiding panicked movement, retracing steps when safe, and choosing a conspicuous resting point if not sure where to go. If possible, use maps, compasses, GPS, or ask for help from locals. Carrying a whistle, a flashlight, a mobile phone with emergency numbers, and informing someone of your route can facilitate rescue. In emergencies, contacting authorities and providing approximate location improves chances of assistance.

Tersesat is widely used in Indonesian media and literature as well as everyday speech, and it also appears in Malay with a similar meaning. The term serves as a concise descriptor of disorientation, whether literal or metaphorical.