Bot bergoyang di laut sekarang.

The boat is rocking at sea now.

Breakdown of Bot bergoyang di laut sekarang.

• sekarang: now
• di: at
• laut: the sea
• bot: the boat
• bergoyang: to rock

Questions & Answers about Bot bergoyang di laut sekarang.

What does the prefix ber- do in bergoyang, and how is it different from just using goyang?

In Malay, ber- is a common verbal prefix that often turns a root into an intransitive verb—i.e. an action the subject does or experiences on its own.

• goyang by itself can be either a root noun (“a shake”) or a transitive verb (“to shake something”).
• bergoyang specifically means “to rock/sway” (the boat rocks by itself or because of forces acting on it).

So goyang focuses on the act of shaking (often with an object), whereas bergoyang describes the subject undergoing that motion.

Why is di used in di laut, and what does it mean?

di is the Malay preposition for location, equivalent to English in, at, or on. Anything following di tells you where something is happening:

• di laut = “at/on the sea” or “in the sea.”

Note: di as a prefix (e.g. digoyang) marks passive voice, but here it’s a separate word showing place.

Why isn’t there a word for “the” or “a” before laut?

Malay does not use definite (the) or indefinite (a/an) articles. Context alone tells you whether you mean “a boat” vs. “the boat,” or “the sea” vs. “a sea.” If you need to be very specific, you might add words like itu (“that”) or ini (“this”), but they’re optional.

Why isn’t sedang used to show that the boat “is rocking” right now?

sedang is a common progressive marker placed before the verb (e.g. bot sedang bergoyang). However, when you include a clear time word like sekarang, Malay speakers often drop sedang because sekarang already signals “right now.” Both are correct:

• Bot sedang bergoyang di laut sekarang.
• Bot bergoyang di laut sekarang.

Can sekarang appear somewhere else in the sentence?

Yes. Malay adverbs of time are flexible: you can put sekarang at the beginning for emphasis or clarity:

• Sekarang, bot bergoyang di laut.
• Bot bergoyang di laut sekarang.

Either position is fine—choose what feels more natural for your rhythm or focus.

Could I use perahu instead of bot, and would the sentence change?

Absolutely. perahu is another Malay word for “boat,” usually implying a traditional wooden craft or canoe, whereas bot often refers to modern motorboats. Grammatically it’s the same:

• Perahu bergoyang di laut sekarang.

The only shift is in the image or type of boat you evoke.

How would I mention the waves as causing the rocking, like “The boat is being rocked by the waves”?

Since bergoyang is intransitive, you can’t add an agent directly to it. You have two common options:
1) Use an active transitive verb:

• Ombak menggoyangkan bot.
  (Waves rock the boat.)
  2) Use a passive form of goyang:
• Bot digoyang ombak.
• Bot digoyang oleh ombak.
  (The boat is rocked by the waves.)

Alternatively, to keep bergoyang and mention cause, use kerana/​sebab:

• Bot bergoyang kerana ombak.
  (The boat rocks because of the waves.)