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Nouns, Plurals & Classifiers

No grammatical gender, plural formed by reduplication, and classifier words (kata penggolong)
Reduplikasi tidak otomatis
Reduplication isn't automatic
-
Used mainly when plurality genuinely needs emphasis
banyak
many/much (substitutes for reduplication)
BAH-nyak
banyak buku = many books
semua
all
seh-MOO-ah
Marks an exhaustive quantity
beberapa
some/several
beh-beh-RAH-pa
Marks an indefinite small quantity
batang
classifier for long thin objects
BAH-tang
sebatang pensil = one pencil
helai
classifier for thin flat objects
heh-LIE
selembar/sehelai kertas = one sheet of paper
mata-mata
spy (reduplication can shift meaning, not just mark plural)
MAH-ta MAH-ta
Not just "eyes" — reduplication can create a new word
buku saya
my book (possession by word order)
BOO-koo SAH-ya
noun + possessor, no linking word needed
milik/punya
belongs to/owned by (emphatic possession)
MEE-leek / POO-nya
Used when possession needs to be stated explicitly
kereta api
train (compound noun, lit. "fire vehicle")
keh-REH-ta AH-pee
Compound nouns are formed by simple juxtaposition