Questions & Answers about Saya menggoreng ayam di dapur.
Why is it menggoreng and not just goreng?
Indonesian typically marks active transitive verbs (verbs that take a direct object) with the prefix meN-. The root here is goreng (fry). Adding meN- gives menggoreng, which is the standard active form when you say you are frying something.
- menggoreng = to fry (actively doing the action to an object)
- goreng alone appears in several roles:
- as an adjective/noun in food names: ayam goreng (fried chicken)
- in imperatives: Goreng ayam! (Fry the chicken!)
- in colloquial speech (especially Jakarta-style): Aku goreng ayam. (informal; standard would be Aku/Saya menggoreng ayam.)
Why does it have a double G (ngg) in menggoreng? How do I pronounce it?
The prefix is meng- and the root starts with g, so you see ng + g right next to each other: menggoreng.
- Pronunciation: say it as me- + ng + goreng: roughly “muhng-GO-reng.” The ngg is like the ng in “sing” immediately followed by a hard g.
- Vowel hints: the first e in meng- is a weak “uh” sound; o in goreng is like “o” in “port” (shorter); -reng ends with a nasal -ng.
What’s the difference between and ?