merah
/ˈmɛrah/
The Indonesian word for red is merah.
merah is used to name the colour red. It functions as both a noun and an adjective to describe something that is red.
Meaning: colour (noun)
Which one should you use?
While merah refers to the color red, the specific phrase Merah Jambu is used to describe the shade known as pink. To specifically refer to the concept of the color itself, you can use the phrase Warna merah, which translates to 'the color red'.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈmɛrah/
Did you know?
- The Indonesian word merah is used in the term merah padam to describe a deep, glowing red, which can also metaphorically describe someone who is extremely angry.
- In Indonesia, the phrase merah putih means 'red and white' and refers specifically to the national flag, which serves as a powerful symbol of independence and purity.
- The word merah is cognate with various words across the Austronesian language family, linking it to distant languages in the Pacific.
Examples in context
- Aku suka mawar merah.I like red roses.This sentence is useful for seeing how to describe a red rose using merah.Tatoeba #4582765 by Bilmanda, translation #259015 by CK
- Apel ini sangat merah.This apple is very red.This sentence is useful for describing an apple that is very red using merah.Tatoeba #11475053 by Pacific, translation #60350 by CK
- Tom punya mobil merah.Tom has a red car.This sentence is useful for stating that someone owns a red car using merah.Tatoeba #11834179 by Pacific, translation #9015843 by CK
- Pilihlah kain berwarna merah untuk busana acara resmi.Choose a red-colored fabric for the formal event.
- 70 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Indah and Adi are looking at clothes in a shop.
- IndahAdi, lihat gaun merah ini!Adi, look at this red dress!
- AdiWarna merah itu sangat cantik, Indah.That red color is very beautiful, Indah.
- IndahApakah menurutmu ini cocok untukku?Do you think this suits me?
- AdiYa, kamu terlihat sangat anggun.Yes, you look very elegant.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “red” translations and entries merah, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
