Kabar

Kabar is a word in Indonesian and Malay that means news or information. It is used to refer to current events, reports, or updates, and it also appears in common greetings and fixed expressions. In everyday language, kabar can be a neutral term for what people have heard or learned about.

The word is a loanword from Arabic khabar, meaning a report or piece of information, and it entered Malay and Indonesian through historical contact with Arabic-speaking scholars and traders. In these languages, kabar carries the sense of information rather than emotion or rumor, though context can influence nuance.

Common phrases include apa kabar? meaning “How are you?”, kabar baik for “good news” or “I'm well,” kabar buruk for “bad news,” and kabar terbaru for “the latest news.” You can also use kabar dari to indicate information from someone, as in “kabar dari teman-temanmu?” meaning “news from your friends?”

In media and journalism, kabar is frequently associated with information dissemination. It appears in everyday speech as well as in titles or names related to news outlets, programs, or segments in Indonesian- and Malay-speaking regions. While most speakers use it simply to denote information, the term can carry different connotations depending on tone and context, from neutral reporting to informal updates.

See also: information, news media, greetings.