Indonesian Prefix di- highlighted in grammar text
  • Mini Bahasa Lessons

Master the Indonesian Prefix di-: The Simple Secret to Natural Passive Voice

Master the Indonesian prefix di- with this simple guide. Learn how to form the passive voice correctly and avoid common spelling mistakes in Bahasa Indonesia.

Do you ever feel that your Indonesian sentences sound a bit too formal or repetitive? While English speakers often rely on active sentences, native Indonesian speakers use the passive voice constantly in daily and professional life. The key to unlocking this natural flow is understanding the Indonesian prefix di-.

In this mini-lesson, we will break down the essentials of how to use this prefix, its various meanings, how to avoid common spelling traps, and how to apply it in your workplace.

What is the Indonesian Prefix di-?

The Indonesian prefix di- is used to transform an active verb (usually starting with me-) into a passive one. While the “Me-” prefix (which you can learn more about in our Ultimate Guide to Me- Prefix) focuses on the “doer,” the di- prefix shifts the focus to the object or the action itself.

The 4 Main Meanings of the Indonesian prefix di-

In Indonesian grammar, the di- prefix isn’t just about “passive voice”—it carries specific nuances depending on the base word:

  1. Target of an Action: The most common use. Something is being “done” to an object.
    • Tangkap (catch) => ditangkap (caught).
    • Rusak (damage/destroy) => dirusak (damaged/destroyed).
  2. Using a Specific Tool: When a noun becomes a verb indicating an action done with that tool.
    • Gunting (scissors) => digunting (cut with scissors).
    • Sapu (swept) => disapu (swept).
  3. Result or State: Describing how something is processed or transformed.
    • Goreng (fry) => digoreng (fried).
    • Rebus (boiled) => direbus (boiled).
  4. Providing or Applying: Giving something to an object.
    • Cat (paint) => dicat (painted/colored).
    • Siram (watered/flushed) => disiram (watered/splashed).

The Simple Formula for Passive Voice

To switch from an active sentence to a passive one, you simply swap the positions of the Subject and the Object, then change the prefix from me- to the Indonesian prefix di-.

  • Active: S + Me-Verb + O 
  • Passive: O + Di-Verb + (oleh) S 

Teacher’s Note: The word “oleh” (by) is often optional in passive sentences! Both versions below are grammatically correct and frequently used in daily conversation.

  • Active (Focus on the Doer): * S + Me-Verb + O

Example:

  • Saya menulis laporan. (I write the report.)
  • Anak kecil itu menangkap kupu-kupu. (The little child catches the butterfly.)
  • Passive (Focus on the Object): * O + Di-Verb + (oleh) S

Example: 

  • Laporan itu ditulis oleh saya. (The report was written by me.)
  • Kupu-kupu ditangkap oleh anak kecil itu. (The butterfly is caught by the little child.)

If you want to practice shifting between these two forms, check out our Indonesian Me- Prefix Exercises.

The "Space Trap": Prefix vs. Preposition

  1. Prefix (Action): There is NO SPACE.
    • dimakan (eaten), dibeli (bought), ditandatangani (signed), ditulis (written).
  2. Preposition (Location): There is ALWAYS A SPACE.
    • di kantor (at the office), di rumah (at home), di Jakarta (in Jakarta), di pasar (at the market).

Mastering this distinction will make your writing look professional and polished. For a deeper look at why this mistake happens so often, you can read more about Common Mistakes with di- Prefix.

Applying the Indonesian Prefix di- in the Workplace

In a corporate environment, the passive voice is often used to sound more objective or to report on the status of tasks. Here are a few examples using the Indonesian prefix di- that you can use immediately:

  • Asking about status: “Apakah dokumennya sudah dikirim?” (Has the document been sent?)
  • Giving an update: “Masalah ini sedang diperbaiki.” (This issue is being fixed.)
  • Confirming payment: “Invoice-nya sudah dibayar tadi pagi.” (The invoice was paid this morning.)

If you find that your sentences are still too simple, you might want to try adding verbs with the Indonesian Prefix Ber- to describe conditions or possessions.

Quick Practice: Test Your Skills!

Try to change these active sentences into the passive voice (di-), or fill in the blanks with the correct verb. This is just like the practice we do in our Me- Prefix Exercises.

Part A: Transform Active to Passive

Change the following sentences from Active (Me-) to Passive (Di-).

  1. Active: Ayah sudah menyapu lantai. Passive: ___________________________
  2. Active: Ibu akan menggoreng nasi. Passive: ___________________________
  3. Active: Pegawai itu telah mengecap dokumen. Passive: ___________________________
  4. Active: Ayahku selalu mencuci mobil seminggu sekali. Passive: ___________________________
  5. Active: Pemilik rumah itu selalu menyapu halaman rumah. Passive: ___________________________

Part B: Fill in the Blanks

Choose the correct passive verb from the box to complete the sentences.

Word Bank: dipimpin | ditangkap | diusir | dibuat | disiram

  1. Indonesia ___________________________ oleh seorang presiden.
  2. Penjahat itu ___________________________ oleh polisi pagi ini di rumahnya.
  3. Kucing itu ___________________________ oleh ibu.
  4. Meja itu ___________________________ oleh tukang kayu terkenal di desa.
  5. Bunga itu ___________________________ setiap hari menggunakan air dan campuran pupuk.

Answer Key

Part A

  1. Lantai sudah disapu oleh ayah.
  2. Nasi akan digoreng oleh ibu.
  3. Dokumen telah dicap oleh pegawai.
  4. Mobil selalu dicuci oleh ayahku seminggu sekali.
  5. Halaman rumah selalu disapu oleh pemilik rumah itu.

Part B

  1. dipimpin (led)
  2. ditangkap (caught/arrested)
  3. diusir (chased away)
  4. dibuat (made)
  5. disiram (watered)

Speak Like a Local

Mastering the Indonesian prefix di- is a major milestone in your Indonesian journey. It allows you to describe actions more naturally, whether you are in a business meeting or ordering food. To expand your prefix knowledge, don’t forget to read about the Indonesian Prefix Ber-.

Ready to master Indonesian with a dedicated instructor?

At Basantara, we specialize in helping professionals and expatriates speak Indonesian with confidence through practical, applicative lessons.

Let’s start your journey toward fluency today!

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  3. Indonesian Language Exercises for Beginner Learners 1
  4. Unlock Fluency with Powerful Indonesian Grammar Exercises on Coordinating Conjunctions
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