siapa

Who with Siapa

Level 1

Siapa is the standard Malay word for 'who'. It is used exclusively for humans. In formal contexts, it often becomes siapakah.

How It Works

1. Basic Usage
The word siapa is used to identify people. It is strictly for humans; never use it for animals or objects. In casual speech, it often stays at the end of the sentence: Awak jumpa siapa? (You met who?).

2. Possession (Whose)
To ask who something belongs to, place siapa directly after the noun: Ini kereta siapa? (Whose car is this?).

3. Formal Questions with -kah
In formal writing, the particle -kah is attached to form siapakah. If siapakah is the subject of a verb, it is followed by yang (e.g., Siapakah yang datang?). However, if you are simply identifying a person (Noun + Noun), yang is omitted (e.g., Siapakah guru itu?).

4. Asking for Names
In Malay, you must use siapa (who) rather than apa (what) when asking for a person's name: Siapa nama awak?

5. Indefinite Meanings
To say 'anyone' or 'whoever', use the formal form sesiapa (or the colloquial siapa-siapa). In negative sentences or conditions, the single word siapa can also mean 'anyone': Saya tidak kenal siapa di sini (I don't know anyone here).

Examples (6)

  1. Siapa nama kamu?

    What is your name?

    Word by Word: Who name you?

    This is the standard way to ask for someone's name in Malay using 'siapa'.

  2. Ini beg siapa?

    Whose bag is this?

    Word by Word: This bag who?

    Placing 'siapa' after a noun indicates possession, similar to 'whose' in English.

  3. Siapakah yang mengambil kunci saya?

    Who (is it that) took my keys?

    Word by Word: Who-kah that take key my?

    A formal sentence structure using the '-kah' particle and 'yang' because 'siapa' is the subject of the verb 'mengambil'.

  4. Siapakah lelaki itu?

    Who is that man?

    Word by Word: Who-kah man that?

    In a simple noun-to-noun identification, 'yang' is not used even in formal fronted questions.

  5. Saya tidak jumpa sesiapa.

    I didn't meet anyone.

    Word by Word: I not meet anyone.

    Demonstrates the indefinite form 'sesiapa' meaning 'anyone' in a negative sentence.

  6. Dia sedang bercakap dengan siapa?

    Who is he/she talking to?

    Word by Word: He/She [progressive] talk with who?

    A common colloquial structure where 'siapa' remains at the end of the sentence.

Common Mistakes

  • Using 'apa' (what) to ask for a name.

    Apa nama awak?
    Siapa nama awak?

    In Malay, names belong to people, so 'siapa' (who) is used instead of 'apa' (what).

  • Using 'siapa' when you mean what a kind of animal or object is called.

    Different MeaningSiapa nama kucing itu?
    Apa nama kucing itu?

    'Siapa nama kucing itu?' is natural when you ask a pet's own name, as people do for family members. 'Apa nama' asks for the name of a kind of thing, for example 'Apa nama buah ini?'

  • Incorrectly adding 'yang' in equative questions.

    Siapakah yang wanita itu?
    Siapakah wanita itu?

    Do not use 'yang' when asking 'Who is [Noun]?'. 'Yang' is only used when 'siapa' is the subject of a verb.

How It Connects

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

siapaLevel 1Who with Siapa

Learn This First

To use 'siapa' (who), learners need to understand that Malay questions can be formed by replacing a noun with a question word in its normal position, often within a simple noun-predicate structure without a copula.

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siapa