dari
Source with Dari
The preposition dari means 'from'. It is used to show where something starts, where it comes from, or what it is made of.
How It Works
In Indonesian, dari is a versatile preposition used to indicate origin or source. To become proficient in its use, you should recognize its primary functions:
- Physical Origin: Movement away from a place (e.g., dari kantor - from the office).
- Starting Point in Time: When an event begins (e.g., dari jam dua - from two o'clock).
- Source: The sender or source of information (e.g., surat dari ibu - a letter from mother).
- Material: The substance an object is made of (e.g., terbuat dari kayu - made of wood).
- Partitive: Expressing 'out of' a group (e.g., satu dari sepuluh - one out of ten).
- Comparison (Colloquial): In casual speech, dari is often used to mean 'than' (e.g., ini lebih besar dari itu), though daripada is the formal standard.
Like other Indonesian prepositions such as di and ke, dari is always written as a separate word and never attached as a prefix. In casual texting, it is frequently abbreviated as dr.
Concise and Fuller Phrases: Warna mobil itu merah is a concise noun-plus-possessor model; Warna dari mobil itu merah is not automatically ungrammatical merely because the shorter option exists. Daripada is the clear formal comparison model, while dari also occurs in comparisons, especially in conversation.
Examples (5)
- Saya berasal dari Bandung.
I come from Bandung.
Word by Word: I originate from Bandung.
Here, dari indicates the city of origin.
- Meja ini terbuat dari kayu jati.
This table is made of teak wood.
Word by Word: Table this made-from from wood teak.
In this context, dari indicates the material composition.
- Dia baru saja pulang dari kantor.
He just got home from the office.
Word by Word: He new just return from office.
This shows dari as a physical starting point of movement.
- Toko ini buka dari jam delapan.
This shop is open from eight o'clock.
Word by Word: Shop this open from hour eight.
This demonstrates dari marking a starting point in time.
- Ini hadiah dari teman saya.
This is a gift from my friend.
Word by Word: This gift from friend my.
Here, dari indicates the source of the object.
Common Mistakes
Attaching 'dari' to the following noun.
Saya darirumah.Saya dari rumah.Prepositions like 'dari', 'di', and 'ke' must always be written with a space before the noun.
How It Connects
Learn This First
To understand 'dari' (from), learners should first be familiar with how Indonesian uses basic prepositions to link nouns to locations, as seen with the locative marker 'di'.
Related Patterns
- daripadaComparison Standard with Daripada
While 'dari' indicates origin, 'daripada' is specifically used for comparisons ('than').
Level 2 - keDirection with Ke
'ke' indicates movement toward a destination, the opposite of 'dari'.
Level 1 - sejakSince with Sejak
Both can refer to time, but 'sejak' specifically means 'since' (starting in the past and continuing).
Level 3 - dari manaWhere from with Dari Mana
The question form used to ask 'where from?'
Level 1
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Words in This Pattern
Practice dari in Bubblegum
Poppy, your AI tutor, writes Indonesian lessons at your level. Tap any grammar point in a lesson to see its full explanation.
