jam berapa?
/ˈd͡ʒam bəˈrapa/word by word
The English phrase "what time is it?" is translated into Indonesian as jam berapa?
This phrase is used to ask for the current time of day. Unlike English, you do not need to include a verb like "is" to form the question. Using the noun and the interrogative pronoun is sufficient.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of jam, meaning hour or clock and berapa, meaning how many or how much.
Which one should you use?
While jam is commonly used in colloquial settings, the term pukul is a more precise word for a specific point in time used in formal contexts. Consequently, you may encounter pukul berapa? when asking for the time in more formal settings.
How does it change in a sentence?
Adding sekarang (now) to the end of the phrase, as in Jam berapa sekarang?, makes the question feel more complete and natural in conversation.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈdʒam bəˈrapa/
Did you know?
- The word jam is a linguistic descendant of the Sanskrit word yāma, which traditionally referred to a specific three-hour period or a 'watch' in ancient timekeeping.
- The word berapa is built from the prefix ber- and the word apa, which literally translates to 'having what' or 'possessing what'.
- Because berapa is used for any quantity, the phrase jam berapa? literally asks 'how many hours?', treating time as a countable amount rather than a specific point.
Examples in context
- Maaf, jam berapa?Excuse me, what time is it?
- Sekarang jam berapa?What time is it now?
Sources
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (jam, berapa) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries berapa, jam, CC BY-SA 4.0.
