peN-...-an

Process Nouns with PeN-...-an

Level 3

The peN-...-an circumfix transforms verbs into nouns that represent a process or action (e.g., 'the act of building').

How It Works

The peN-...-an circumfix is a formal way to create 'process nouns' in Indonesian. It is useful in academic, journalistic, and professional writing, and many established nouns are also everyday words. These nouns can also name a result or a lexicalized meaning, not only a process.

1. Morphophonemic Rules
The 'N' in peN- follows the same nasalization rules as the meN- prefix:

  • pem-: Before b, p, f (e.g., pakai → pemakaian).
  • pen-: Before d, t, c, j, z (e.g., tulis → penulisan).
  • peng-: Before vowels and g, h, k (e.g., kirim → pengiriman).
  • peny-: Before s (e.g., sewa → penyewaan).
  • pe-: Before sonorants such as m, n, ny, ng, l, r, w, y; for example, rawat → perawatan.
  • penge-: Before one-syllable roots (e.g., cat → pengecatan).

2. Process vs. Result
It is important to distinguish this from the -an suffix. While pembangunan is the act of building, bangunan is the building itself (the result).

3. Suffix Removal
When forming a process noun from a verb that uses the -kan or -i suffix, those suffixes are dropped. For example, the verb memberitahukan (to inform) becomes the noun pemberitahuan (announcement/notification), and memenuhi (to fulfill) becomes pemenuhan (fulfillment).

Note: Verbs using the memper- prefix usually form nouns using the per-...-an pattern (e.g., memperbaiki → perbaikan) rather than peN-...-an.

Examples (4)

  1. Pembangunan jembatan itu memakan waktu dua tahun.

    The construction of that bridge took two years.

    Word by Word: Process-build bridge that take time two year.

    'Pembangunan' comes from 'bangun' (to build) and refers to the ongoing act of building.

  2. Kami masih menunggu pengiriman barang dari Jakarta.

    We are still waiting for the delivery of goods from Jakarta.

    Word by Word: We still wait process-send goods from Jakarta.

    'Pengiriman' comes from 'kirim' (to send) and refers to the process of shipping.

  3. Penulisan laporan ini harus selesai besok.

    The writing of this report must be finished tomorrow.

    Word by Word: Process-write report this must finish tomorrow.

    'Penulisan' comes from 'tulis' (to write) and refers to the act of writing the document.

  4. Pemberitahuan itu dikirim melalui email.

    The announcement was sent via email.

    Word by Word: Process-give-know that sent through email.

    Note how the '-kan' suffix from the verb 'memberitahukan' is dropped when forming the noun 'pemberitahuan'.

Common Mistakes

  • Forgetting to drop the initial consonant of the root.

    pentulisan
    penulisan

    Just like the meN- prefix, the initial 't' in 'tulis' must be dropped when adding the nasal 'n'.

  • Confusing process nouns with result nouns.

    Saya tinggal di pembangunan itu.
    Saya tinggal di bangunan itu.

    For the physical building where someone lives, use bangunan. Pembangunan refers to building or development; the correction selects the physical structure rather than that process.

How It Connects

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peN-...-anLevel 3Process Nouns with PeN-...-an

Learn This First

The peN-...-an circumfix creates nouns that describe the process of an action. To understand it, you must first be familiar with the meN- verbal system, as peN-...-an nouns are directly derived from meN- verbs. You also need to understand the nasalization rules (where the 'N' changes based on the first letter of the root) and how the suffix -an functions to turn roots into nouns.

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Words in This Pattern

peng- -an