Plural Nouns in Indonesian Language

In English, we can make plural noun by adding –s/es on ending of singular noun, such as:

Book (singular) becomes books (plural)

Bag (singular) becomes bags (plural)

Indonesian language has two styles for making a plural noun, they are:

1. Repetition (pengulangan)

For example:

Buku (singular): book

Buku-buku (plural): books

Saya mempunyai sebuah buku.

(I have a book)

Buku-buku itu milik saya.

(The books are mine)

2. By adding word “para”

For example:

Guru itu adalah Pak Budi.

(The teacher is Mr. Budi)

Para guru itu adalah Pak Budi, Pak Asep, and Pak Tono.

(The teachers are Mr. Budi, Mr. Asep, and Mr. Tono)

According to Indonesian terms, singular is called as “tunggal” and plural is called as “jamak”.