apalagi

Much Less or Moreover

Level 6

Apalagi is a powerful connector used to say "especially," "moreover," or "let alone." It highlights a point that is even more true or significant than the one just mentioned.

How It Works

The conjunction apalagi is a compound of apa (what) and lagi (more/again). While it is written as one word when used as a conjunction, it should not be confused with the two-word phrase apa lagi, which means "what else?"

1. Logical Direction
The second claim is presented as even more expected or compelling in context. Polarity matters: if someone cannot do an easy task, inability to do a harder one follows; if they can do a harder task, ability to do an easier one can follow. For example, if someone cannot afford a bicycle, it is even more obvious they cannot afford a car. Therefore, the car follows apalagi.

2. Positive vs. Negative Contexts

  • Positive: It translates to "especially" or "moreover." Example: "I love fruit, apalagi (especially) mangoes."
  • Negative: It translates to "let alone" or "much less." Example: "He can't even stand up, apalagi (let alone) run."

3. Sentence-Initial Usage
Apalagi can be used at the start of a sentence to mean "Especially since..." or "All the more so because..." This is common when providing a persuasive reason for a previous statement. For example: "Dia pasti lelah. Apalagi dia baru pulang dari luar negeri." (He must be tired. Especially since he just returned from abroad.)

4. Apalagi vs. Terutama
While both can mean "especially," terutama is more formal and is used to highlight a primary subset or main focus. Apalagi is more emphatic and focuses on logical escalation or adding a reason that makes the previous point even more certain.

5. Syntactic Usage
Apalagi is highly flexible. It can precede:

  • Nouns: ...apalagi dia (especially him).
  • Adjectives: ...apalagi yang mahal (especially the expensive ones).
  • Clauses: ...apalagi kalau hujan (especially if it rains).

It is often paired with the jangankan ... pun ... construction for maximum emphasis in negative comparisons.

Examples (4)

  1. Tempat ini sangat indah, apalagi kalau dilihat pada malam hari.

    This place is very beautiful, especially when seen at night.

    Word by Word: Place this very beautiful, moreover if seen at night time.

    Here, 'apalagi' adds a specific condition that makes the initial statement (the place is beautiful) even more true.

  2. Jangankan mobil, sepeda pun dia tidak punya, apalagi pesawat pribadi.

    Forget a car, he doesn't even have a bike, let alone a private jet.

    Word by Word: Let alone car, bike even he not have, moreover plane private.

    In this negative context, 'apalagi' introduces the most extreme and impossible item (a private jet).

  3. Anak kecil saja sudah mengerti, apalagi orang dewasa.

    Even a small child understands, let alone an adult.

    Word by Word: Child small just already understand, moreover person adult.

    This uses 'apalagi' to show a logical progression: if a child understands, it is even more expected that an adult would.

  4. Saya tidak suka kopi, apalagi yang pahit sekali.

    I don't like coffee, especially the very bitter kind.

    Word by Word: I not like coffee, moreover which bitter very.

    The speaker uses 'apalagi' to narrow down their dislike to a specific, more extreme version of the noun.

Common Mistakes

  • Writing 'apalagi' as two separate words when used as a conjunction.

    Saya lelah, apa lagi setelah bekerja.
    Saya lelah, apalagi setelah bekerja.

    'Apalagi' (one word) is the conjunction. 'Apa lagi' (two words) is a question or phrase meaning 'what else?'

  • Reversing the logical order of the comparison.

    Dia bisa jalan kaki, apalagi lari maraton.
    Dia bisa lari maraton, apalagi jalan kaki.

    In a positive ability statement, running a marathon can support the easier case of walking: Dia bisa lari maraton, apalagi jalan kaki. In a negative statement the direction reverses: Dia tidak bisa jalan kaki, apalagi lari maraton. Do not use mere walking ability as proof of marathon ability.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

apalagiLevel 6Much Less or Moreover

Learn This First

To understand 'apalagi', a learner needs to be comfortable with comparisons and adding emphasis to statements. It is used to introduce a stronger reason or a more extreme example that makes the previous statement even more obvious, often in negative contexts (meaning 'much less') or positive contexts (meaning 'moreover' or 'especially').

Words in This Pattern

apalagi