apa

§ What does it mean?

The word apa in Indonesian is a very common word you'll hear and use. It directly translates to "what" in English. Think of it as your go-to word for asking about things, actions, or ideas when you don't know the specific details.

DEFINITION

Interrogative pronoun; what

Just like "what" in English, apa is used to form questions. It can stand alone, or be part of a longer question. It's super versatile and you'll find it in many different sentence structures.

§ When do people use it?

Indonesian speakers use apa all the time. Here are the main situations:

• To ask for information about something: This is the most basic use. If you want to know what something is, or what's happening, you'll use apa.
• To ask about actions: When you want to know what someone is doing or what action is taking place.
• To confirm or seek clarification: Sometimes apa can be used at the beginning of a yes/no question to turn a statement into a question, even though a simple rising intonation can also do the job.
• In fixed expressions: There are many common phrases in Indonesian that include apa.

Let's look at some examples to make this clear.

§ Examples of 'Apa' in action

Here are some common ways you'll use apa:

This is probably the first Indonesian phrase you'll learn. It means "How are you?" Literally, it's more like "What news?" but it functions as a greeting.

This means "What is this?" You can use this when you're pointing at something unfamiliar. (Ini = this)

This translates to "What do you want to eat?" (Kamu = you, mau = want, makan = eat)

This means "Do you like coffee?" Here, apa starts a yes/no question. You could also just say "Kamu suka kopi?" with a rising tone, but adding apa makes it explicitly a question. (Suka = like, kopi = coffee)

"What is he/she doing?" (Dia = he/she, sedang = currently doing, melakukan = doing/performing)

§ Common phrases with 'Apa'

You'll often hear apa in these common expressions:

• Apa boleh buat? - What can be done? / What to do? (Used when you accept a situation)
• Tidak apa-apa - Nothing at all. / It's nothing. (Often a response to "thank you" or "sorry")
• Apa lagi? - What else?

Mastering apa is a crucial first step in asking questions and engaging in basic conversations in Indonesian. Keep practicing with these examples and try to form your own simple questions using apa!

§ The meaning of 'apa'

The Indonesian word apa is a very common and useful word. It's an interrogative pronoun, which means it's used to ask questions. In English, it directly translates to 'what'. You'll use it all the time to find out information.

DEFINITION

Interrogative pronoun; what

§ Basic questions with 'apa'

The simplest way to use 'apa' is at the beginning of a question, similar to how 'what' is used in English. It's often followed by a noun or a verb.

What is this?

What is that?

§ Asking about actions

You can also use 'apa' to ask about actions or verbs. In this case, 'apa' often comes before the verb.

What are you doing? (Literally: You are doing what?)

What did he/she eat? (Literally: He/She eat what?)

§ 'Apa' for yes/no questions

This is a super important use of 'apa'. In Indonesian, you can turn any statement into a yes/no question by simply adding 'apa' at the beginning. It's like adding 'do you...?' or 'is it...?' in English without changing the sentence structure much.

• Statement: Kamu suka kopi. (You like coffee.)
• Question: Apa kamu suka kopi? (Do you like coffee?)

• Statement: Dia pergi. (He/She went.)
• Question: Apa dia pergi? (Did he/she go?)

§ Common phrases with 'apa'

'Apa' is part of many useful everyday phrases. Learning these will help you sound more natural.

• Apa kabar? (How are you?) - Literally: What news?
• Ada apa? (What's up? / What's wrong? / What happened?) - Literally: Is there what?
• Untuk apa? (What for? / Why?) - Literally: For what?

How are you, friend?

What's over there?

§ 'Apa' vs. 'siapa'

Beginners sometimes confuse 'apa' (what) with 'siapa' (who). It's important to keep them separate:

• Apa: Used for things, ideas, actions.
• Siapa: Used for people.

What is your name? (Asking about the name, a thing/information)

Who is your name? (This is grammatically incorrect in English and would sound strange in Indonesian too, as you're asking 'who' about a 'name'.)

Who is he/she? (Asking about a person)

§ Understanding 'Apa'

Let's talk about the word 'apa'. This is a very common and useful word in Indonesian. You'll hear it all the time, everywhere you go. It's the Indonesian equivalent of 'what' in English. Knowing how to use 'apa' correctly will help you ask questions and understand what others are asking you.

DEFINITION

Interrogative pronoun; what

§ 'Apa' in Daily Life

You'll hear 'apa' in many everyday situations. It's essential for basic communication. Think about all the times you ask 'what' in English – the same applies to 'apa' in Indonesian.

• Asking about things: You want to know what something is.
• Asking about actions: You want to know what someone is doing.
• Asking for clarification: You didn't hear something clearly.

§ 'Apa' at Work or School

In more formal settings like work or school, 'apa' is still your go-to word for 'what'. You might use it to ask about tasks, assignments, or information.

• In a meeting: Clarifying a point.
• In a classroom: Asking about homework or lesson content.
• In an office: Inquiring about a project status.

§ 'Apa' in the News

When listening to news or reading articles, you'll encounter 'apa' frequently. Journalists often use it to introduce questions or to refer to unknown information.

• News headlines: Posing a question to the reader.
• Interviews: The interviewer asking 'what' questions.
• Reports: Referring to the 'what' of an event.

By now, you should have a good grasp of how and where 'apa' is used. Keep practicing, and soon you'll be using it naturally in your Indonesian conversations!