apakah

Apakah is a question particle in Indonesian (and Malay) used to form yes-no questions and to introduce indirect questions. It is usually placed at the beginning of the clause that expresses the question and functions as the main interrogative in formal or written language. The term is a compound of apa (what) and the particle kah, reflecting its historical development in Malay‑Indonesian grammar.

In yes-no questions, menggunakan “apakah” yields sentences such as “Apakah kamu sudah makan?” or “Apakah ini milikmu?” In embedded or indirect questions, it introduces a subordinate clause: “Saya tidak tahu apakah dia datang.” In casual speech, speakers may opt for simpler constructions or rely on rising intonation rather than using “apakah,” but in formal writing and public speaking, it remains the preferred form for clarity and politeness. Related question particles exist in related languages, such as adakah (for existential questions) and kenapakah or bilakah in more literary or rhetorical contexts.

Overall, “apakah” serves as a flexible tool for signaling interrogative meaning in Indonesian, supporting both direct yes-no questions and indirect inquiries within a sentence.