saya suka
/ˈsaja ˈsuka/word by word
The English phrase "I like" is translated into Indonesian as saya suka.
The phrase is used to express that you enjoy or have a positive feeling toward someone or something. To emphasize that you really love or strongly like something, you can use the variation Saya suka banget.
Which one should you use?
While saya suka is the standard way to express preference, the form aku suka is used specifically among friends or in more casual settings.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
saya suka is the standard, polite form. In contrast, aku suka is an informal way to say "I like" and is better suited for casual settings.
How does it change in a sentence?
The word suka functions as a verb and can be followed directly by a noun or another verb to express liking an object or an action. In more structured or literary Indonesian, the formal transitive form menyukai is used to indicate liking a specific object.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈsaja ˈsuka/
Did you know?
- The word saya is actually a shortened version of the older word sahaya, which historically meant 'servant' or 'follower'.
- Indonesians may use suka to express a romantic crush on someone, whereas sayang is used for deeper affection or love.
- In Indonesian, the word suka can be used to describe a habit or a tendency to do something frequently, not just a feeling of enjoyment.
Examples in context
- Saya suka kostum ini.I like this costume.This example shows how to use saya suka with a noun.Tatoeba #11494302 by Pacific, translation #11494186 by shekitten
- Saya suka istana Anda.I like your castle.Tatoeba #13010331 by HAGNi, translation #10462841 by DJ_Saidez
- Saya suka memakan daging.I like to eat meat.This example shows how saya suka can be followed by a verb.Tatoeba #11227106 by Pi31415i, translation #5146697 by CarpeLanam
- Saya menyukai kopiI like coffee
- Saya menyukai masakan khas Indonesia.I like Indonesian cuisine.
- Saya menyukai film drama Korea.I like Korean drama movies.
- Saya menyukainya, dia adalah teman yang baik.I like her, she is a good friend.
- Saya suka musikI like music
- Saya suka bermain sepak bolaI like playing soccer
- Saya suka makanan pedas.I like spicy food.
- Saya suka buku ini, kisahnya menarik sekali!I like this book, the story is very interesting!
- Saya suka dia, dia selalu membuat saya tertawa.I like him/her, he/she always makes me laugh.
- Saya suka berlibur ke pantai.I like going on vacation to the beach.
- Saya suka banget makan baksoI really love eating meatballs
- 29 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Sari and Budi are looking at a new painting in an art gallery.
- SariSaya suka lukisan ini.I like this painting.
- BudiBenarkah? Saya juga suka.Really? I like it too.
- SariWarnanya sangat indah.The colors are very beautiful.
- BudiIya, sangat menenangkan.Yes, it is very calming.
Sources
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (saya, suka) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries saya, suka, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
