When you're just starting to learn Indonesian, one of the first things you'll want to do is describe colors. Abu-abu is the Indonesian word for 'gray'. It's a simple adjective, so it's easy to add to your vocabulary right away. You'll use it just like you would 'gray' in English to talk about anything that has that color.
When talking about colors in Indonesian, you'll find it quite straightforward. Abu-abu directly translates to gray. Unlike some other languages, you generally don't need to worry about masculine or feminine forms, or plural forms when using color adjectives like abu-abu.
You can use abu-abu to describe objects, clothing, or even a mood. For instance, if you want to say 'a gray shirt', you'd say 'kemeja abu-abu'. If you're describing the weather as 'gray and cloudy', you could say 'cuaca abu-abu dan berawan'.
When we talk about colors in Indonesian, one of the first words you'll learn is abu-abu. It directly translates to 'gray' in English. It's a fundamental adjective, meaning it describes nouns, like a 'gray shirt' or 'gray sky'.
It's a straightforward word, generally used in the same way you would use 'gray' in English. For instance, 'mobil abu-abu' means 'gray car'. There aren't really complex nuances or idiomatic uses for abu-abu at the A1 level; it simply refers to the color.
Guía de pronunciación
- Mispronouncing the 'u' sound as a long 'oo' like in 'moon' instead of a short 'oo' like in 'book'.
Ejemplos por nivel
Warna bajunya abu-abu.
The color of his/her shirt is gray.
Kucing itu abu-abu.
That cat is gray.
Mobilnya warna abu-abu.
His/her car is gray.
Langit hari ini abu-abu.
The sky today is gray.
Saya suka warna abu-abu.
I like the color gray.
Buku ini sampulnya abu-abu.
This book's cover is gray.
Sepatu saya abu-abu.
My shoes are gray.
Dinding itu abu-abu.
That wall is gray.
Warna kesukaan saya abu-abu.
My favorite color is gray.
Mobilnya berwarna abu-abu.
His car is gray.
Langit hari ini abu-abu, sepertinya mau hujan.
The sky today is gray, looks like it's going to rain.
Kucing itu punya bulu abu-abu yang indah.
That cat has beautiful gray fur.
Saya memakai jaket abu-abu.
I am wearing a gray jacket.
Dinding kamarnya dicat abu-abu.
His room's wall is painted gray.
Ada awan abu-abu di ufuk timur.
There are gray clouds on the eastern horizon.
Rambut nenek saya sudah mulai abu-abu.
My grandmother's hair has started to turn gray.
Se confunde a menudo con
Used to negate verbs, adjectives, or adverbs.
Used to negate nouns or pronouns.
Indicates existence or possession. Can be confused with 'punya' (to have).
Fácil de confundir
'Bisa' can mean both 'can' (ability/possibility) and 'venom' (from a snake or other animal).
Context is key. If discussing capability, it's 'can.' If discussing a snake's bite, it's 'venom.'
Saya bisa bicara bahasa Indonesia. (I *can* speak Indonesian.) / Hati-hati, ular itu punya bisa. (Be careful, that snake has *venom*.)
While generally meaning 'to eat,' 'makan' can also be used colloquially to mean 'to take' or 'to consume' in a broader sense, sometimes referring to abstract things.
In everyday conversation, it's usually 'eat.' In certain phrases, it's more about consumption or effect.
Dia makan nasi. (He *eats* rice.) / Korupsi itu makan uang rakyat. (That corruption *consumes* the people's money.)
Often translated as 'already,' 'sudah' also indicates completion of an action, or can be used as a polite refusal or to say 'enough.'
Think of it as 'finished' or 'done.' Its exact meaning depends on the sentence's structure and intent.
Saya sudah makan. (I *have already eaten*.) / 'Mau tambah lagi?' 'Sudah, terima kasih.' ('Want more?' 'Enough, thank you.')
'Bunga' can mean 'flower' but also 'interest' (as in financial interest).
The context of whether you're talking about plants or money will clearly differentiate the meaning.
Taman ini penuh bunga. (This park is full of *flowers*.) / Bank memberikan bunga tinggi untuk tabungan. (The bank gives high *interest* for savings.)
'Jatuh' means 'to fall,' but it can also be used figuratively for 'to fall in love,' 'to fall ill,' or even 'to go bankrupt.'
While the core meaning is 'to fall,' its application can be quite broad in idiomatic expressions.
Dia jatuh dari sepeda. (He *fell* off the bicycle.) / Mereka jatuh cinta. (They *fell in love*.) / Perusahaan itu jatuh bangkrut. (That company *went bankrupt*.)
Preguntas frecuentes
10 preguntasThe Indonesian word for 'gray' is abu-abu.
Yes, abu-abu is a very common word, just like 'gray' in English. You'll hear and see it often.
Just like in English, you can specify shades. For example, 'light gray' would be abu-abu muda, and 'dark gray' would be abu-abu tua.
That's a good question! While literally meaning 'gray color', abu-abu can also be used metaphorically, similar to 'gray area', to describe something unclear or ambiguous. For example, 'situasi yang abu-abu' (a gray situation).
You can use abu-abu just like an adjective. For instance: 'Mobil itu berwarna abu-abu.' (The car is gray.) or 'Dia memakai kemeja abu-abu.' (He is wearing a gray shirt.)
No, primarily it refers to the color gray. The metaphorical use is an extension of that.
Yes, that's a good way to think about it! Each syllable is pronounced clearly: a-bu-a-bu.
Abu-abu is an A1 level word, meaning it's one of the first words you'll learn as a beginner.
No, abu-abu is the standard and most common way to say 'gray'. There isn't a widely used shorter version.
You could think of 'ash' which is 'abu' in Indonesian. 'Ash-ash' might sound a bit like 'gray'. Or, just repeat it often: 'abu-abu, gray, abu-abu, gray!'
Ponte a prueba 66 preguntas
Warna langit hari ini agak ___.
The sentence describes the color of the sky, and 'abu-abu' means gray, which is a common sky color.
Kucing itu berbulu ___.
This sentence describes the color of a cat's fur. 'Abu-abu' is a common fur color for cats.
Mobilnya berwarna ___.
The sentence talks about the color of a car. 'Abu-abu' is a very common car color.
Dinding kamarku dicat ___.
The sentence describes the color of a room's wall. 'Abu-abu' is a popular color for interior walls.
Batu itu terlihat ___ dan besar.
The sentence describes a rock. Rocks are typically gray, so 'abu-abu' fits here.
Dia memakai kemeja ___ hari ini.
The sentence says someone is wearing a shirt. 'Abu-abu' is a common color for clothing.
Choose the correct translation for 'gray'.
'Abu-abu' is the Indonesian word for 'gray'.
The color of an elephant is usually...
Elephants are commonly gray in color.
Which sentence correctly uses 'abu-abu'?
'Pakaiannya berwarna abu-abu' means 'His/her clothes are gray'.
The word 'abu-abu' means 'blue'.
'Abu-abu' means 'gray', not 'blue'. 'Biru' means 'blue'.
A color that can be described as 'abu-abu' is similar to the color of clouds on a cloudy day.
Gray is a common color for clouds on a cloudy day.
If something is 'abu-abu', it is a very bright color.
'Abu-abu' (gray) is generally not considered a bright color.
Langit hari ini berwarna ___, sepertinya akan hujan.
The sky is gray before rain. 'Merah' (red), 'biru' (blue), and 'hijau' (green) do not fit the context of impending rain.
Kucing itu memiliki bulu yang indah, warnanya ___ dengan sedikit garis putih.
The context suggests a specific fur color that can be mixed with white, 'abu-abu' (gray) is a common cat fur color. 'Hitam' (black), 'kuning' (yellow), and 'coklat' (brown) are also possible, but 'abu-abu' fits well.
Dinding ruangan itu dicat warna ___ agar terlihat lebih modern.
'Abu-abu' (gray) is a popular color choice for modern interiors. 'Pink', 'ungu' (purple), and 'oranye' (orange) are less commonly associated with a 'modern' aesthetic in this context.
Matahari terbit menciptakan pemandangan yang indah, mengubah langit dari ___ menjadi keemasan.
At dawn, the sky often transitions from a dark, 'abu-abu' (gray) hue to golden as the sun rises. 'Biru' (blue), 'merah' (red), and 'putih' (white) don't capture this transition as accurately.
Dia mengenakan setelan jas berwarna ___ untuk pertemuan penting itu.
'Abu-abu' (gray) is a classic and professional color for suits, suitable for important meetings. 'Kuning' (yellow), 'merah muda' (pink), and 'hijau terang' (light green) are generally not considered appropriate for formal business attire.
Setelah berhari-hari mendung, cuaca hari ini terlihat sedikit lebih cerah, tidak lagi begitu ___.
After cloudy days, the sky would have been 'abu-abu' (gray). A brighter day would mean it's no longer gray. 'Biru' (blue) and 'terang' (bright) describe the opposite, and 'putih' (white) doesn't fit the context of 'mendung' (overcast).
This sentence means 'His/Her favorite color is gray.' The word order follows the standard Indonesian subject-verb-object structure.
This sentence translates to 'The sky looks cloudy and gray today.' The adjectives 'mendung' (cloudy) and 'abu-abu' (gray) describe 'langit' (sky).
This sentence means 'That cat has soft gray fur.' The adjective 'abu-abu' (gray) modifies 'bulu' (fur).
Pilih kalimat yang benar secara tata bahasa dan makna:
Pilihan A memiliki susunan kata yang paling alami dan benar dalam bahasa Indonesia. 'Dia mengenakan' adalah subjek-predikat yang tepat, diikuti objek 'sweter abu-abu' dan keterangan 'yang pas di tubuhnya'.
Manakah dari kalimat berikut yang paling baik menggambarkan penggunaan 'abu-abu' dalam konteks yang berbeda?
Pilihan A menggunakan 'abu-abu' sebagai metafora untuk ketidakjelasan atau keraguan, yang merupakan penggunaan lebih kompleks (B2). Pilihan lainnya menggunakan 'abu-abu' secara harfiah untuk warna.
Jika 'abu-abu' mengacu pada situasi yang tidak jelas, mana yang paling tepat untuk menggambarkan situasi seperti itu?
Pilihan A menggunakan 'abu-abu' untuk menggambarkan ketidakjelasan atau ambigu, yang sesuai dengan tingkat B2. Pilihan lain menggunakan 'abu-abu' sebagai warna.
Dalam konteks formal, mengatakan 'Situasinya abu-abu' adalah cara yang sopan untuk menyatakan ketidakpastian.
Menggunakan 'abu-abu' untuk menggambarkan situasi yang tidak jelas atau tidak pasti adalah idiom umum dalam bahasa Indonesia dan dapat digunakan dalam konteks formal untuk menunjukkan ketidakpastian tanpa terdengar terlalu lugas.
Kata 'abu-abu' hanya bisa digunakan untuk menggambarkan warna benda.
'Abu-abu' juga dapat digunakan secara metaforis untuk menggambarkan situasi atau keputusan yang tidak jelas, ambigu, atau belum pasti, seperti dalam 'keputusan yang abu-abu'.
Jika seseorang mengatakan 'Pikiranku sedang abu-abu', itu berarti mereka sedang memikirkan warna abu-abu.
Frasa 'pikiranku sedang abu-abu' secara idiomatik berarti pikiran sedang kacau, bingung, atau tidak jelas, bukan sedang memikirkan warna abu-abu.
This sentence translates to 'His/Her favorite color is dark gray.' The word order for 'dark gray' is 'abu-abu gelap'.
This translates to 'The sky looked gray before the rain fell.' 'Abu-abu' describes the 'langit' (sky).
This sentence means 'There is a gray cat in that park.' 'Abu-abu' comes after the noun 'kucing' (cat) it describes.
The sky's color implies heavy rain.
Their debate remains unclear.
Her mood is ambiguous.
Read this aloud:
Situasi politik saat ini masih abu-abu, penuh ketidakpastian.
Focus: abu-abu, ketidakpastian
Dijiste:
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Read this aloud:
Pikirannya terhadap masa depan masih abu-abu, ia belum memiliki tujuan yang jelas.
Focus: pikirannya, masa depan, tujuan
Dijiste:
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Read this aloud:
Keputusan final proyek itu masih abu-abu, menunggu persetujuan dari direksi.
Focus: keputusan, proyek, direksi
Dijiste:
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This sentence describes how mixing blue and yellow can create an interesting greenish-gray hue. 'Keabu-abuan' here refers to a shade that is tending towards gray.
This sentence talks about the unique charm of brutalist architecture, characterized by its gray concrete, even if it appears simple and monotonous at first glance.
This sentence uses 'abu-abu' metaphorically to describe the often unclear distinction between right and wrong in complex ethical situations.
Pilih kalimat yang paling tepat menggambarkan suasana 'abu-abu' dalam konteks metaforis.
Dalam konteks metaforis, 'abu-abu' sering digunakan untuk menggambarkan suasana yang suram, tidak pasti, atau melankolis, seperti yang ditunjukkan dalam pilihan ini.
Manakah dari pernyataan berikut yang paling sesuai dengan penggunaan 'abu-abu' untuk menggambarkan kurangnya kejelasan moral atau etika?
'Area abu-abu' adalah frasa umum yang digunakan untuk menunjukkan situasi di mana tidak ada batasan yang jelas antara benar dan salah, atau baik dan buruk. Pilihan ini paling akurat menggambarkan penggunaan tersebut.
Jika seseorang mengatakan bahwa 'dunia terasa abu-abu' baginya, apa yang kemungkinan besar dia rasakan?
Ungkapan 'dunia terasa abu-abu' sering digunakan untuk menggambarkan perasaan hambar, tidak ada kegembiraan, atau kurangnya gairah dalam hidup, yang mengarah pada perasaan acuh tak acuh.
Jika sebuah novel disebut memiliki 'karakter abu-abu', berarti karakter tersebut tidak memiliki sifat yang menonjol atau menarik sama sekali.
Dalam konteks sastra, 'karakter abu-abu' biasanya merujuk pada karakter yang memiliki sifat kompleks, tidak sepenuhnya baik atau jahat, dan memiliki motivasi yang ambigu, bukan berarti tidak menonjol atau tidak menarik.
Pernyataan 'masa depan tampak abu-abu' mengindikasikan prospek yang cerah dan penuh harapan.
Sebaliknya, 'masa depan tampak abu-abu' mengindikasikan ketidakpastian, keraguan, atau prospek yang suram dan tidak menjanjikan.
Dalam konteks desain, warna 'abu-abu' selalu dihindari karena dianggap membosankan dan tidak menarik.
Warna abu-abu sering digunakan dalam desain karena sifatnya yang netral, elegan, dan dapat menciptakan kontras yang baik dengan warna lain, sehingga tidak selalu dihindari.
The speaker is talking about their favorite color.
The speaker is describing the color of the clouds and predicting rain.
The speaker is describing the color of a shirt someone is wearing.
Read this aloud:
Mobil sport itu berwarna abu-abu metalik.
Focus: abu-abu
Dijiste:
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Read this aloud:
Kucing itu memiliki bulu abu-abu yang indah.
Focus: abu-abu
Dijiste:
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Read this aloud:
Dinding ruangan itu dicat abu-abu gelap.
Focus: abu-abu
Dijiste:
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This sentence discusses the enduring mysteries of the universe despite rapid technological advancement, emphasizing 'abu-abu' as areas of uncertainty.
This sentence describes a legal situation becoming 'abu-abu' (unclear/ambiguous) due to a judge's decision, creating uncertainty for involved parties.
This sentence uses 'abu-abu' to illustrate the ambiguity between right and wrong in ethical dilemmas within moral philosophy.
/ 66 correct
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