The prefix peN- makes nouns. Most often it names the person who does something: penyanyi (singer), pelukis (artist), pelari (runner). It can also name a tool — penyapu (broom), pemadam (eraser), pembaris (ruler) — or, with an adjective, a person with that trait: pemalu (a shy person), pemalas (a lazy person).
What your child will learn
- Say whether a pe- word names a person, a tool or a trait
- Choose pe-, pem-, pen-, peng-, peny- or penge-
- Work back to the base word
The same rules as me-
PeN- follows exactly the pattern of meN-: pembaca, pendengar, penggali, penyapu, pengecat. The letters p, t, k and s drop out: tulis becomes penulis, sapu becomes penyapu, kira becomes pengira.
A few words take plain pe- instead: petani (farmer), pesakit (patient), pelajar (student). Note the pair pelajar (one who learns) and pengajar (one who teaches).
Example questions
Here are a few questions like the ones in the first quest. Can you solve them?
1. Betul atau salah? Awalan “peN-” boleh menunjukkan orang yang melakukan sesuatu.
🖊️- Betul
- Salah
Show answer
Answer: Betul. Contohnya: penari, pelakon, pemandu.
2. “Pelukis” ialah…
- tempat melukis
- alat untuk melukis
- orang yang melukis
- gambar yang dilukis
Show answer
Answer: orang yang melukis. Awalan peN- menamakan pelaku.
3. “Penyanyi” ialah…
🎤- alat muzik
- tempat menyanyi
- lagu yang dinyanyikan
- orang yang menyanyi
Show answer
Answer: orang yang menyanyi. Awalan peN- menamakan pelaku.
Tips for grown-ups
- Name the jobs in your neighbourhood with pe- words: penjual, pemandu, pembersih.
- Sort a list of pe- words into people and tools.