sudah + Verb

Completed or Attained State with Sudah

Level 1

Sudah + Verb is the primary way to express that something has happened or is completed. It is often translated as 'already' or 'have/has'.

How It Works

In Malay, sudah is a versatile particle placed directly before a verb or adjective. It serves three main purposes:

  • Completion: To show an action is finished (e.g., 'I have eaten').
  • Change of State: To show a new condition has started (e.g., 'He is [already] awake').
  • No Longer: When combined with tidak, the phrase sudah tidak means 'no longer' or 'not anymore' (e.g., 'Dia sudah tidak bekerja di sini' - He no longer works here).

Register and Form:
In daily conversation, sudah is very frequently shortened to dah. While sudah is neutral, you might see telah in very formal writing. Unlike English, if the time is already clear (like saying 'yesterday'), you often don't need to use sudah at all.

Standalone and Interjection Use:
One unique feature of sudah is that it can be used as a one-word answer to mean 'Yes, I have' or 'Done'. Additionally, in a sharp tone, Sudah! can be used as an interjection meaning 'Enough!' or 'Stop it!' to end a conversation or action.

Examples (5)

  1. Saya sudah makan.

    I have already eaten.

    Word by Word: I already eat.

    A standard example of a completed action.

  2. Dia sudah bangun.

    He has already woken up.

    Word by Word: He already wake up.

    This shows a change of state (from sleeping to awake).

  3. "Sudah mandi?" "Sudah."

    "Have you showered?" "Yes (already)."

    Word by Word: "Already bathe?" "Already."

    Demonstrates how 'sudah' can be used as a standalone affirmative response.

  4. Saya dah faham.

    I understand now.

    Word by Word: I already understand.

    Uses the colloquial short form 'dah' to imply a change from not understanding to understanding.

  5. Kereta itu sudah rosak.

    That car is already broken.

    Word by Word: Car that already broken.

    'Sudah' can also be used with adjectives to show a state that has been reached.

Common Mistakes

  • Using 'tidak sudah' for 'not yet'.

    Saya tidak sudah makan.
    Saya belum makan.

    In Malay, the negative of 'sudah' (already) is not 'tidak' (not), but belum (not yet).

  • Mixing up 'sudah' (already done) with 'pernah' (have been before).

    Different MeaningSaya sudah pergi ke Jepun.
    Saya pernah pergi ke Jepun.

    'Saya sudah pergi ke Jepun' is a good sentence: the trip is done. 'Pernah' talks about an experience at some time in your life: 'Saya pernah pergi ke Jepun.'

How It Connects

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

sudah + VerbLevel 1Completed or Attained State with Sudah

Learn This First

To understand 'sudah', a learner needs to be comfortable with the fact that Malay verbs are invariant and that time or completion is indicated by placing specific markers before the verb within a standard sentence structure.

Learn Next

Patterns that build on this one.

Words in This Pattern