suara

Suara is a term used in Indonesian and Malay that generally means sound or voice. It covers the audible output produced by living beings, such as human speech or animal calls, as well as sounds generated by inanimate objects, machinery, or nature. In everyday speech, speakers distinguish between tone quality (suara merdu, suara serak), volume (suara keras) and source (suara mesin, suara laut). The phrase suara hati expresses the inner voice or conscience, illustrating metaphorical use.

The word is native to Malay and Indonesian, with cognates across Austronesian languages. It is commonly linked to the Sanskrit root svara or śvara, meaning voice or sound, reflecting historical cultural exchange in the region; however, precise etymology is debated.

In physics, sound is a mechanical wave that propagates through a medium. Perception depends on frequency (pitch), amplitude (loudness), and timbre. In air at room temperature, the speed of sound is about 343 meters per second. Humans hear roughly 20 Hz to 20 kHz; sounds outside this range are inaudible.

In Indonesian, suara also forms common terms and expressions, such as pita suara (vocal cords), suara radio/TV (broadcast audio), suara rakyat (the voice of the people). In media and culture, the word is used to describe voices in politics, music, and daily life.

Related terms include gelombang suara (sound wave) and pita suara (vocal cords).