jelas

Jelas is a common adjective in Indonesian and Malay that means clear, obvious, or explicit. It is used to describe explanations, statements, evidence, or conditions that are easy to understand or leave little room for doubt. In everyday speech, it can function as a predicate adjective, as in "Jawabannya jelas" (The answer is clear), or as part of a phrase that emphasizes clarity.

Etymology and availability: The word is native to Malay and Indonesian vocabularies. Its precise historical development is not widely documented in brief reference works, but it is related to semantic fields involving visibility and brightness in those languages. It is widely recognized across both formal and informal registers.

Usage and examples: In Indonesian and Malay, jelas can appear in formal writing, journalism, education, and casual conversation. It may describe a perception that is evident, such as "bukti yang jelas" (clear evidence), or underline the intelligibility of an explanation, as in "penjelasan yang jelas." In addition, the word can serve as an interjection in discourse to indicate understanding or to command clarity, for example, "Jelas!" meaning “Understood” or “Clear!”

Translations and equivalents: English equivalents include clear, obvious, and evident. In context, jelas is often paired with nouns or clauses to assert transparency or conclusiveness, and it is commonly found in language teaching materials, media reporting, and formal communications within Indonesian and Malay-speaking communities.

See also: terang, nyata, bahasa Melayu, Bahasa Indonesia.