What does it mean word for word?
The literal translation is "Who is your name?", using siapa (who) to inquire about the name.
Which one should you use?
The forms differ based on the level of politeness and the pronouns used. Siapa nama Anda? uses the formal pronoun Anda. Siapa namamu? and Apa namamu? use the informal suffix -mu for "your".
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Siapa nama Anda? is a common formal way to ask someone's name, making it suitable for strangers or professional settings. For a very polite approach, you can say Mohon maaf, siapa nama Anda? (Sorry, what is your name, please?) or Boleh saya tahu nama Anda? (May I know your name?). In contrast, Siapa namamu? and Apa namamu? are informal and typically used with peers or people younger than you. Using the pronoun Anda is more suitable for formal settings than informal alternatives.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In the Betawi dialect, you may hear Siapa nama elo?, where elo is a slang word for "you".
How do you pronounce it?
/siˈapa ˈnama ˈanda/
What mistakes should you avoid?
Avoid using Apa (what) to ask for a name, such as in the incorrect phrase Apa nama Anda? In Indonesian, names are treated as people, so Siapa (who) is the correct interrogative.
Did you know?
- The formal pronoun Anda is a relatively recent invention, coined only in 1957 and popularized a year later.
Examples in context
- Namaku [Your Name].My name is [Your Name].
- Maaf, siapa nama Anda?Excuse me, what is your name?
- Boleh saya tahu, siapa nama Anda?May I know, what is your name?
Example conversation
Dimas and Putri meet at a formal community event.
- DimasSelamat siang, siapa nama Anda?Good afternoon, what is your name?
- PutriNama saya Putri. Nama Anda?My name is Putri. What is yours?
- DimasNama saya Dimas.My name is Dimas.
- PutriSenang berkenalan dengan Anda, Dimas.Nice to meet you, Dimas.
