murid

Both 'murid' and 'siswa' mean 'student'. In everyday Indonesian, they are often used interchangeably. However, 'siswa' is typically used for students in a formal school setting (elementary to high school), while 'murid' can be used more broadly for any learner, including those in informal classes or private tutoring. You can generally use either without much issue, but if you're talking about someone in a school, 'siswa' is a very common choice. For example:

• Murid saya belajar bermain gitar. (My student is learning to play guitar.)
• Para siswa sedang belajar di kelas. (The students are studying in the classroom.)

To make 'murid' plural, you can simply repeat the word: 'murid-murid'. This is a common way to pluralize nouns in Indonesian. You can also use a pluralizer like 'para' (for people) before 'murid', or a number if you're specifying how many students. For example:

• Ada banyak murid-murid di sekolah itu. (There are many students in that school.)
• Para murid sedang membaca buku. (The students are reading books.)
• Tiga murid baru datang. (Three new students arrived.)

While 'murid' can refer to any learner, for university students, the more common and specific term is 'mahasiswa' (male) or 'mahasiswi' (female). The general term for university students is 'mahasiswa' (which can also be used for a group including both male and female students). So, while technically a university student is a type of 'murid', you'll most often hear 'mahasiswa'. For example:

• Dia adalah seorang mahasiswa di universitas. (He is a university student.)
• Bukan 'murid' dalam konteks universitas. (Not 'murid' in a university context.)

'Murid' is a neutral word and can be used in both formal and informal contexts. It's a standard term for 'student'. You don't need to worry about it being too casual or too stiff. For example:

• Saya punya banyak murid di kelas saya. (I have many students in my class.) - Informal
• Kepala sekolah menyapa semua murid. (The principal greeted all the students.) - Formal

You can use 'murid' just like you would use 'student' in English. It can be the subject or object of a sentence. Here are a few examples:

• Murid itu pintar sekali. (That student is very smart.)
• Guru mengajar murid-murid. (The teacher teaches the students.)
• Saya melihat seorang murid baru. (I saw a new student.)

Yes, 'murid' can definitely be used for a pupil or an apprentice. It refers to someone who is learning from a teacher or master in a general sense. For example:

• Dia adalah murid pelukis terkenal itu. (He is the apprentice/pupil of that famous painter.)
• Seorang murid perlu banyak berlatih. (A pupil needs to practice a lot.)

The word 'murid' comes from Arabic (مُرِيد - murīd), meaning 'one who desires' or 'seeker'. In an Islamic context, it refers to a disciple or a student following a spiritual guide or teacher. This origin highlights its meaning as someone who is actively seeking knowledge or guidance. Although its origin is Arabic, it's now fully integrated into the Indonesian language with its common meaning of 'student'.

Yes, as mentioned, 'mahasiswa'/'mahasiswi' are for university students. Another less common term you might encounter, especially in religious or traditional contexts, is 'santri', which specifically refers to a student in an Islamic boarding school (pesantren). However, for a general 'student', 'murid' and 'siswa' are your go-to words. For example:

• Para santri mengaji di masjid. (The santri (students) are reciting the Quran in the mosque.)

To say 'my student', you simply add the possessive suffix '-ku' to 'murid': 'muridku'. You can also use 'murid saya', which is more formal and polite. Both are correct and commonly used. For example:

• Ini muridku yang paling pintar. (This is my student who is the smartest.)
• Saya mengajar murid saya setiap hari Selasa. (I teach my student every Tuesday.)

A common 'mistake' (or perhaps more accurately, a point of confusion) for English speakers is often trying to strictly differentiate 'murid' and 'siswa' in every context, when in many situations they are interchangeable in casual speech. Another might be forgetting to use 'mahasiswa' for university students, as 'murid' would sound a bit less specific in that context. Just remember that 'murid' is a solid general term for 'student' in most learning environments. For example:

• Salah: "Dia murid di universitas." (Incorrect: "He is a student at the university.")
• Benar: "Dia mahasiswa di universitas." (Correct: "He is a university student.")