-kah

Question Suffix -kah

Level 3

The suffix -kah is a formal question marker. It highlights a specific word as the 'focus' of the question and is primarily used in standard, written, or official Indonesian.

How It Works

The particle -kah serves two main purposes in Indonesian:

1. Focusing and Fronting Predicates: To emphasize a specific part of a question, -kah is attached to the predicate (or the specific part of the predicate being questioned), which is then moved to the front. For example, 'Dia guru' (He is a teacher) becomes 'Gurukah dia?' (Is he a teacher?). This construction is a hallmark of formal written Indonesian and literary styles.

2. Formalizing Question Words: It is frequently attached to standard question words to mark a formal register. Common examples include apakah, siapakah, bagaimanakah, manakah (which one), kapankah, and mengapakah. Note that mengapakah is the standard formal choice; attaching -kah to the informal kenapa is generally avoided in good writing.

Key Characteristics:

  • Register: While apakah is standard in most formal contexts, attaching -kah to other predicates is common in formal journalism, legal documents, examinations, and classical literature. It is rarely used in casual conversation.
  • No Sound Changes: -kah is a simple suffix that attaches directly to the end of a word without changing any letters (e.g., makan + -kah = makankah).
  • Optionality: Even in formal writing, -kah is often optional if the context or a question mark already makes the meaning clear. However, using it helps you become confident with the formal tone and precise focus of the sentence.

Examples (4)

  1. Siapakah nama Presiden pertama Indonesia?

    What is the name of Indonesia's first president?

    Word by Word: Who-[focus] name President first Indonesia?

    Here, -kah is attached to the question word 'siapa' to make the sentence formal and official.

  2. Sudahkah Anda membaca laporan itu?

    Have you already read that report?

    Word by Word: Already-[focus] you read report that?

    The word 'sudah' (already) is the focus. By adding -kah and moving it to the front, the speaker is specifically asking for confirmation of completion.

  3. Mahalkah harga buku di toko ini?

    Is the price of books in this shop expensive?

    Word by Word: Expensive-[focus] price book at shop this?

    The adjective 'mahal' (expensive) is fronted and marked with -kah to focus the question on the cost.

  4. Apakah Anda tinggal di Jakarta?

    Do you live in Jakarta?

    Word by Word: Whether you live in Jakarta?

    This is the most common use of -kah, creating the formal yes/no question marker 'apakah'.

Common Mistakes

  • Using -kah in casual, everyday conversation.

    Sudahkah kamu makan, Budi?
    Sudah makan, Bud?

    Sudahkah kamu makan is grammatical, but can sound formal in a casual exchange. Intonation alone is usually sufficient with friends. The shorter alternative changes register; -kah does not automatically make a question dramatic or robotic.

  • Using -kah without fronting the focused word.

    Anda sudahkah membaca buku itu?
    Sudahkah Anda membaca buku itu?

    When -kah is attached to a predicate like 'sudah', that word should almost always move to the beginning of the sentence.

How It Connects

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

-kahLevel 3Question Suffix -kah

Learn This First

To understand the -kah suffix, learners first need to be familiar with basic question words and the formal yes-no question marker 'apakah'. Additionally, since -kah often marks the predicate in a focused position, understanding how adjectives and nouns function as predicates without a copula is essential for recognizing the word order shifts that occur when -kah is used.

Words in This Pattern

-kah