bermain
/bərˈmain/
To play in Indonesian is to say bermain. Wiktionary also lists main.
Meaning: act in a manner such that one has fun (verb)
Ways to say it
| Indonesian | IPA |
|---|---|
| bermain | /bərˈmain/ (Standard Indonesian) |
| main | /ˈmain/ (Standard Indonesian) |
The verb is used to describe acting in a manner to have fun. You can use it for various activities such as bermain bola (play soccer), bermain kartu (play cards) or bermain musik (play music). Additionally, the term Berkumpul can refer to gathering for leisure activities or hanging out and playing.
Which one should you use?
bermain is the complete, standard form of the verb, while main is a shortened version used frequently in daily speech. In a social context, the shorter form main can also mean to hang out or to visit someone's house.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
bermain is the formal version of the verb. main is the colloquial or informal form used frequently in casual conversation.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
/bərˈmain/
Did you know?
- The root word main is actually a linguistic relative of the word ayam, which means 'chicken'.
- The phrase main mata literally means 'playing eyes' but is used idiomatically to describe flirting or exchanging secret signals.
- The term main-main is often used as an adjective to describe something that is not serious or is merely a joke.
Examples in context
- Aku enggak mau main.I don't want to play.This sentence is useful for expressing a lack of desire to play using the form main.Tatoeba #13704488 by HAGNi, translation #2011553 by CK
- Ayo main petak umpet!Let's play hide-and-seek!This sentence is useful for suggesting a game of hide-and-seek using the form main.Tatoeba #11959765 by Pacific, translation #1064354 by sundown
- Kamu bisa main biola?Can you play the violin?This sentence is useful for asking about the ability to play an instrument using the form main.Tatoeba #12147014 by HAGNi, translation #69796 by CK
- Bermain bolaTo play soccer
- Bermain pianoTo play the piano
- Memainkan peranTo play a role
- Marilah berkumpul dan bermain bersamaLet's gather and play together
- Saya suka bermain gitar setiap akhir pekan.I like to play the guitar every weekend.
- Anak-anak bermain-main di taman dengan riang gembira.The children are playing in the park joyfully.
- 90 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are deciding what to do in the park.
- IndahAyo kita bermain bola di taman.Let's play ball in the park.
- RianBoleh, tapi aku tidak bawa bola.Sure, but I didn't bring a ball.
- IndahJangan khawatir, aku punya bola cadangan.Don't worry, I have a spare ball.
- RianKalau begitu, ayo segera mulai.In that case, let's start right away.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “play” translations and entries bermain, main, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries bermain, main, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
