betapa

Betapa is a function word used in Indonesian and Malay to express a high degree or extremity. It is an exclamatory adverb meaning "how" and is used to intensify adjectives, adverbs, or entire clauses. The form is typically placed before a descriptor and often followed by the suffix nya, as in betapa indahnya pemandangan itu (how beautiful that view is) or betapa cepatnya dia berlari (how fast he runs). Etymologically, betapa derives from the root apa ("what") with the intensifying prefix be-, yielding a word used for emphasis rather than direct inquiry.

Grammatically, betapa is used to convey admiration, wonder, or lament and is common in formal writing, poetry, journalism, and everyday speech. It is primarily exclamatory and not used to pose straightforward questions; for degree questions Malay typically uses seberapa or berapa. Typical collocations include betapa sulitnya, betapa pentingnya, betapa besar dampaknya. The construction is understood across Indonesian and Malay varieties and appears in literary works, religious texts, and popular media. In literature, betapa can heighten rhetorical effect, underscoring the emotional or evaluative tone of a sentence.