Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Add 'ter-' to the beginning of an adjective to turn it into a superlative, meaning 'the most'.
- Add 'ter-' to base adjectives: 'ter-' + 'besar' (big) = 'terbesar' (biggest).
- No need for extra words like 'paling' when using 'ter-'.
- Works for almost all descriptive adjectives in Indonesian.
Superlative Formation
| Base Adjective | Meaning | Superlative Form | Superlative Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Besar
|
Big
|
Terbesar
|
Biggest
|
|
Kecil
|
Small
|
Terkecil
|
Smallest
|
|
Cepat
|
Fast
|
Tercepat
|
Fastest
|
|
Mahal
|
Expensive
|
Termahal
|
Most expensive
|
|
Pintar
|
Smart
|
Terpintar
|
Smartest
|
|
Indah
|
Beautiful
|
Terindah
|
Most beautiful
|
Meanings
The 'ter-' prefix is used to indicate the superlative degree of an adjective, signifying the highest level or intensity.
Superlative
Indicates the highest degree of a quality.
“Dia adalah murid terpintar di kelas.”
“Ini adalah masalah tersulit.”
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Affirmative
|
ter- + Adjective
|
Dia terpintar.
|
|
Negative
|
tidak + paling + Adjective
|
Dia tidak paling pintar.
|
|
Question
|
Siapa yang + ter- + Adjective?
|
Siapa yang terpintar?
|
|
Comparison
|
ter- + Adjective + di + Noun
|
Dia tertinggi di kelas.
|
|
Emphasis
|
ter- + Adjective + sekali
|
Itu terindah sekali.
|
|
Short Answer
|
Yang ter- + Adjective
|
Yang tercepat.
|
격식 수준 스펙트럼
Rumah tersebut adalah yang terbesar. (Describing property)
Rumah itu terbesar. (Describing property)
Rumahnya paling gede. (Describing property)
Rumahnya paling mantap. (Describing property)
The Superlative Concept
Adjectives
- cepat fast
- besar big
Result
- tercepat fastest
- terbesar biggest
수준별 예문
Ini adalah buku terbaik.
This is the best book.
Dia orang tercepat.
He is the fastest person.
Rumah itu terbesar.
That house is the biggest.
Ini sangat terindah.
This is the most beautiful.
Siapa murid terpintar di sini?
Who is the smartest student here?
Ini adalah masalah tersulit.
This is the hardest problem.
Dia memakai baju termahal.
She is wearing the most expensive clothes.
Itu adalah momen terlucu.
That was the funniest moment.
Kota ini memiliki gedung tertinggi.
This city has the tallest building.
Dia memberikan jawaban terakurat.
He gave the most accurate answer.
Ini adalah keputusan terpenting.
This is the most important decision.
Dia adalah atlet terhebat.
He is the greatest athlete.
Penelitian ini adalah yang terpenting tahun ini.
This research is the most important of the year.
Dia adalah kandidat terkuat untuk posisi itu.
He is the strongest candidate for that position.
Ini adalah solusi termudah bagi kita.
This is the easiest solution for us.
Dia adalah orang termiskin di desa itu.
He is the poorest person in that village.
Karya ini dianggap sebagai yang teragung.
This work is considered the greatest.
Ini adalah tantangan terberat dalam kariernya.
This is the hardest challenge in his career.
Dia adalah sosok terpandang di komunitas.
He is the most respected figure in the community.
Ini adalah pencapaian tertinggi mereka.
This is their highest achievement.
Dia adalah pemikir terkemuka di zamannya.
He was the most prominent thinker of his time.
Ini adalah fenomena teraneh yang pernah saya lihat.
This is the strangest phenomenon I have ever seen.
Keputusan itu adalah yang terbijak.
That decision was the wisest.
Dia adalah orang terhormat di sini.
He is the most honorable person here.
혼동하기 쉬운
Both use the same prefix, but they mean different things.
Both mean 'the most'.
Some words like 'terbuka' look like superlatives.
자주 하는 실수
paling terbesar
terbesar
ter-besar
terbesar
ter-cepat sekali
tercepat
tercepat di dunia
tercepat di dunia
ter-mahal
termahal
paling termahal
termahal
ter-pintar
terpintar
terbuka
terbuka
ter-indah
terindah
paling terindah
terindah
ter-agung
teragung
paling teragung
teragung
ter-pandang
terpandang
문장 패턴
Ini adalah ___ yang ___.
Siapa yang ___ di ___?
Dia adalah orang ___ yang saya kenal.
Itu adalah keputusan ___ bagi kita.
Real World Usage
Video ini terlucu!
Ini adalah pencapaian terbesar saya.
Hotel ini adalah yang terbaik.
Sambal terpedas di kota.
Hasil ini adalah yang terakurat.
Hari tersulit nih.
Avoid Redundancy
Check the Context
Use in Formal Writing
Casual vs. Formal
Smart Tips
Use 'ter-' instead of 'paling' for a more professional tone.
Feel free to use 'paling' as it sounds more natural in casual settings.
Check if it's a passive or accidental state.
Use 'ter-' to highlight your achievements.
발음
Prefix stress
The stress usually falls on the root word, not the 'ter-' prefix.
Superlative emphasis
Dia yang TER-besar! ↗
High pitch on the root word for emphasis.
암기하기
기억법
Think of 'ter-' as 'Top-er'. It puts the adjective at the top of the list.
시각적 연상
Imagine a mountain. At the very peak, there is a flag with the word 'TER-' written on it. Anything that reaches the peak gets the 'TER-' prefix.
Rhyme
For the most, don't be a bore, just add 'ter-' at the door.
Story
Budi wanted to be the best runner. He trained every day. He became the fastest runner in the city. Everyone called him 'tercepat'.
Word Web
챌린지
Write 5 sentences describing your family members using 'ter-' (e.g., 'Ayah saya yang terkuat').
문화 노트
Using 'ter-' is seen as more refined than 'paling' in formal writing.
In casual Jakarta speech, 'paling' is used much more frequently than 'ter-'.
Academic papers almost exclusively use 'ter-' for superlatives.
The 'ter-' prefix is an Austronesian prefix that has evolved to serve multiple functions in Indonesian.
대화 시작하기
Siapa orang terpintar yang kamu kenal?
Apa makanan terpedas yang pernah kamu makan?
Apa tantangan terberat dalam pekerjaanmu?
Apa momen terindah dalam hidupmu?
일기 주제
자주 하는 실수
Test Yourself
Dia adalah murid ___ (pintar) di kelas.
Find and fix the mistake:
Ini adalah yang paling terbesar.
Which sentence is grammatically correct?
adalah / terbesar / rumah / ini
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
Select the superlative.
Dia adalah atlet ___ (hebat) di dunia.
Find and fix the mistake:
Itu adalah momen yang paling terindah.
Score: /8
연습 문제
8 exercisesDia adalah murid ___ (pintar) di kelas.
Find and fix the mistake:
Ini adalah yang paling terbesar.
Which sentence is grammatically correct?
adalah / terbesar / rumah / ini
Match: Besar, Kecil, Cepat, Mahal
Select the superlative.
Dia adalah atlet ___ (hebat) di dunia.
Find and fix the mistake:
Itu adalah momen yang paling terindah.
Score: /8
자주 묻는 질문 (8)
No, that is redundant. Use one or the other.
No, it can also be a passive/accidental prefix. Context is important.
Use 'ter-' in formal writing and 'paling' in casual speech.
No, it remains 'ter-'.
Almost all, but some rare adjectives might sound better with 'paling'.
Use 'Siapa yang ter-...' or 'Yang mana yang ter-...'?
It is specific to Indonesian/Malay.
No, 'ter-' with verbs usually indicates passive or accidental action.
Scaffolded Practice
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Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
-est / most
Indonesian uses a prefix, English uses suffixes or separate words.
el más
Spanish uses a separate phrase, Indonesian uses a prefix.
le plus
French uses a separate phrase, Indonesian uses a prefix.
am ...-sten
German uses a circumfix, Indonesian uses a prefix.
ichiban
Japanese uses a separate word, Indonesian uses a prefix.
al-af'al
Arabic uses a root-pattern system, Indonesian uses a prefix.
