dan
/dan/
The English word 'and' is translated into Indonesian as dan.
The word is a conjunction used to connect two similar words, phrases, et cetera.
Meaning: used to connect two similar words, phrases, et cetera (conj)
Which one should you use?
The word dan is a common and straightforward way to say 'and' in formal Indonesian. The word serta is a formal way to say 'and' often used in written Indonesian such as academic or professional settings. The word sama is an informal way to say 'and' used among friends and peers.
How do you pronounce it?
/dan/
Did you know?
- The word dan is believed to be a shortened version of the Old Malay word daṅan, which originally meant 'with' or 'by means of'.
- While dan is the standard conjunction, some Indonesian speakers use the word sama to mean 'and' in casual speech, even though sama literally translates to 'equal' or 'same' in a dictionary.
- The word dan is so fundamental that it rarely changes form, unlike many other Indonesian words that take prefixes or suffixes to change meaning.
Examples in context
- Tom dan Mary putus.Tom and Mary are done.This sentence is useful for seeing how to connect two names using dan.Tatoeba #3478823 by lewis, translation #2646481 by CK
- Aku besar dan kuat.I'm big and strong.This sentence shows how to connect two adjectives using dan.Tatoeba #11583249 by Pacific, translation #10127058 by shekitten
- Ayo pergi dan lihat.Let's go and take a look.This sentence demonstrates connecting two verbs using dan.Tatoeba #3478950 by lewis, translation #3476637 by CK
- 739 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Dimas and Indah are discussing what to buy at the market.
- DimasAku ingin membeli apel dan jeruk.I want to buy apples and oranges.
- IndahBoleh, aku mau beli sayur dan buah.Sure, I want to buy vegetables and fruit.
- DimasApakah kita butuh gula dan garam?Do we need sugar and salt?
- IndahYa, kita butuh keduanya.Yes, we need both.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “and” translations and entries dan, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries dan, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
