Ways to say it
| Indonesian | IPA |
|---|---|
| di mana | /di ˈmana/ (Standard Indonesian) |
| ke mana | /ˌkə ˈmana/ (Standard Indonesian) |
Use di mana to ask about a current or fixed location, and use ke mana when asking about a destination or direction.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase di mana is composed of the preposition di (at/in) and the interrogative mana (which/where), literally meaning 'at where'.
Which one should you use?
Di mana is used for static locations. In contrast, ke mana translates to 'to where' and is used when inquiring about movement toward a destination.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
While di mana is a common formal expression for 'where', it is also frequently used in casual spoken Indonesian as a direct question word. In formal written Indonesian, di mana is often used as a relative pronoun meaning 'where' or 'in which' within complex sentences. For a friendly and casual way to ask 'where', you can use Di mana ya?
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Tangerang, the Betawi expression Dimane is used.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
To ask where someone or something is coming from, you should use the form dari mana ('from where').
How do you pronounce it?
/di ˈmana/
When do people say it?
When searching for an object, you can use the phrase Ada di mana? to mean 'where is it?'
Did you know?
- In some contexts, mana is a learned borrowing from the Hebrew word for 'manna', the food provided to the Israelites in the Bible.
- In casual speech, Indonesians often omit the preposition entirely and simply use mana to ask 'where'.
- While di mana is used to ask 'where', the word mana on its own actually means 'which'.
Examples in context
- Kamu mau ke mana?Where are you going to?This is useful for asking about a person's destination with ke mana.Tatoeba #4607167 by Bilmanda, translation #371443 by saeb
- Tadi kamu di mana?Where were you?This shows how to ask about a past location using di mana.Tatoeba #3806661 by orion17, translation #16486 by CK
- Dia pergi ke mana?Where was he going?This is another example of asking about a destination with ke mana.Tatoeba #4607158 by Bilmanda, translation #292029 by CK
- Di mana kantor pusat perusahaan?Where is the company headquarters?
- Ke mana Anda akan pergi?Where are you going?
- Kunci mobil ada di mana?Where are the car keys?
- Di mana saya bisa makan nasi goreng?Where can I eat fried rice?
- 260 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Indah is looking for her lost keys and asks Budi for help.
- IndahBudi, kunci saya di mana?Budi, where are my keys?
- BudiAda di atas meja.They are on the table.
- IndahBukan di situ, di mana ya?Not there, where could they be?
- BudiCoba cari di dalam tas kamu.Try looking inside your bag.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “where” translations and entries di mana, ke mana, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries di, di mana, ke, ke mana, mana, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
