Indonesian Discourse Particles

Ih

To convey shock, disapproval, disgust (‘Ew’, ‘Ugh’)

Ah

To convey nonchalance, disbelief, frustration, regisnation and humour (‘Ah’, ‘Oh’)

Hah

To convey surprise, shock and disbelief (‘Hah’, ‘What’)

Aja

Limits an action or choice, when there are a wide variety of options (‘Just’)

Doang

Emphasises limitation and the lack of limitations (‘Only’, ‘Is that all?’)

Lah (At the end of an imperative verb)

To voice a command or encourage somebody to do something

Lah (At the end of a sentence/clause)

To emphasise the obvious / To convey annoyance or protest (‘Obviously’)

Dong (1)

Expresses confirmation / agreement / Introduces new information that is helpful (‘Certainly’)

Dong (2)

Expresses persuasion (‘Please’)

Loh

Expresses frustration / Emphasising some information (the speaker expects that they should already know) (‘Oh’, ‘Hey!’, ‘Wait’, ‘You know?’, ‘By the way’)

Kok (1)

To ask why (‘Why?’, ‘How come?’)

Kok (2)

To convey reassurance (‘Rest assured’)

Loh kok

To ask why in a more shocked/frustrated way (‘Why?’, ‘How come?’)

Nih

Here it is! / This it is!

Noh

Here it is! / This it is! (in Western Java)

Tuh (1)

To point something out or to draw attention to something (‘There’, ‘Look at that’)

Tuh (2)

To confirm information that has already been mentioned (‘See!’)

Itu tuh

To point out something that is not directly handed over (‘There is is’, ‘Over there’)

Kan (As a filler word, anywhere in the sentence, except the beginning)

To help give connection anywhere in the sentence (‘Here goes’, ‘You know’)

Kan (At the end of a sentence)

To seek agreement (‘Right!’, ‘Isn't it?’)

Kan (As a filler word, anywhere in the sentence)

To help give connection anywhere in the sentence (‘Here goes’, ‘You know’)

Sih (at the beginning of a sentence)

Adds emphasis (‘As for’)

Sih (at the end of a clause) (1)

To agree with someone’s opinion (‘Actually’)

Sih (at the end of a clause) (2)

To convey cheeky curiosity (‘You know’)

Sih (After the subject)

To show hesitance or uncertainty

Toh (1)

Reassurance / Justification (‘After all’)

Toh (2)

To show concession or contrast, when something is true, despite what is being said (‘But still’, ‘Yet’)

Toh (3)

To show resignation, acceptance or dismissal (‘Anyway’, ‘Might as well’)

Ya (1)

To ask for agreement, confirmation or understanding (‘Yeah?’, ‘Okay?’, ‘Right?’, ‘Is … not?’)

Ya (2)

Emphasis or reinforcement of a point, often with warning, frustration or urgency (Often after an imperative verb or its object) (‘Okay!’, ‘Alright?’)