suharto: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowFormal (historical, political, academic)
Quick answer
What does “suharto” mean?
The surname of the second president of Indonesia (Haji Mohammad Soeharto), who held power from 1967 to 1998, known for his authoritarian rule and economic development policies.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The surname of the second president of Indonesia (Haji Mohammad Soeharto), who held power from 1967 to 1998, known for his authoritarian rule and economic development policies.
A proper noun referring to the historical figure, his era (the New Order/Orde Baru regime), or the political system and legacy associated with his lengthy rule in Indonesia. Can be used metonymically to refer to centralized, authoritarian governance or crony capitalism in a Southeast Asian context.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant linguistic differences in usage. Contextual differences may arise in historical emphasis based on regional academic or media focus.
Connotations
Similar connotations in both varieties: primarily historical/political, often with negative associations regarding human rights and corruption, but sometimes neutral or positive in discussions of economic stability and development.
Frequency
Equally low frequency in both UK and US English, appearing primarily in historical, political science, or Southeast Asian studies contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “suharto” in a Sentence
[Suharto] + [verb in past tense: ruled, resigned, oversaw]the + [era/regime/rule] + of + [Suharto][event/policy] + under + [Suharto]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “suharto” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The general was accused of attempting to Suharto his way into power, suppressing opposition and centralising control.
American English
- Critics warned that the leader sought to Suharto the political system, mimicking the Indonesian president's authoritarian tactics.
adjective
British English
- The report detailed the Suharto-era corruption that still affects the economy.
American English
- They lived through the Suharto years, a time of both growth and political silence.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Might appear in analyses of Southeast Asian economic history or crony capitalism.
Academic
Common in political science, history, and Southeast Asian studies texts discussing 20th-century Indonesia.
Everyday
Very rare, except in discussions of modern Indonesian history or politics.
Technical
Used as a specific historical referent in political and historical discourse.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “suharto”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “suharto”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “suharto”
- Misspelling as 'Soharto', 'Suharta', or 'Soeharto' in English contexts (though 'Soeharto' is the original spelling).
- Incorrect pronunciation with a hard 't' (as in 'cart'); the 't' is soft.
- Using as a common noun (e.g., 'a suharto') – it is always a proper noun.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is exclusively a proper noun, the surname of a specific historical figure.
In British English, it is approximately /suːˈhɑːtəʊ/. In American English, it is /suˈhɑːrtoʊ/. The 'h' is pronounced, and the final 'o' is a long 'o' sound.
'Soeharto' is the original Indonesian spelling based on older Dutch-influenced orthography. 'Suharto' is the simplified, more common spelling used in English-language publications and media.
Yes, in compound forms like 'Suharto-era' or 'Suharto-style', it functions attributively to describe things related to his period of rule or his methods of governance.
The surname of the second president of Indonesia (Haji Mohammad Soeharto), who held power from 1967 to 1998, known for his authoritarian rule and economic development policies.
Suharto is usually formal (historical, political, academic) in register.
Suharto: in British English it is pronounced /suːˈhɑːtəʊ/, and in American English it is pronounced /suˈhɑːrtoʊ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A Suharto-style regime”
- “The Suharto playbook (referring to authoritarian tactics)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Suharto: 'Sue' the 'heart' of the 'Order' – think of a leader (heart) who was sued (faced legal challenges) over his New 'Order' regime.
Conceptual Metaphor
SUHARTO IS AN ERA (He is metonymically the time period itself). SUHARTO IS A SYSTEM (His name represents the political and economic structures he built).
Practice
Quiz
In which field is the term 'Suharto' most frequently used?