Three letter words/sounds you’ll never find in any Indonesian Dictionary.
deh
Usage: As emphasis, urging the listener to believe what is being said.
Definition: I am telling you; this is certainly the case.
Commonly encountered in phrase: “Kangen deh.” Translation: “I miss you, really I do.”
kan
Usage: As emphasis, as to solicit the agreement of another, usually in the form of a question.
Definition: Is that right? Is that correct?
Commonly encountered in phrase: “Begitu kan?”Translation: “That’s the way it is, right?”
kah
Usage: With inflection, added to make any phrase a question.
Definition: An audible question mark.
Commonly encountered in phrase: “Lapar kah?” Translation: “Are you hungry?”
kok
Usage: Expression of disbelief or surprise.
Definition: English equivalent does not exist. The closest thing we can come up with is ‘What?’
Commonly encountered in phrase: “Kok bisa?”Translation: “How can that be?”
lah
Usage: An ad-hoc suffix to indicate a loss for words and therefore the substitution of another.
Definition: Kind of; sort of.
Commonly encountered in phrase: “Ya, mereka lagi fighting lah.”Translation: “Yeah, they’re fighting.”
loh
Usage: A sound used to take offense or confusion at something.
Definition: I’m offended; I’m confused.
Commonly encountered in phrase: “Loh, tidak boleh omong begitu.” Translation: “Hey I’m offended, you can’t say that.”
nah
Usage: A sound used as a conjunction when making a case in an argument (often by politicians and bureaucrats) when the speaker assumes to close the argument with a trump card or spike, if you will.
Definition: Therefore
Commonly encountered in phrase: “Karena begitu, dan karena alasan-alasan yang tersebut tadi, nah, oleh sebab itu…”Translation: “Because of that, and because of the aforementioned reasons, therefore…”
sih
Usage: An expression of disbelief when seeking information from another.
Definition: The hell
Commonly encountered in phrase: “’Gimana, sih?”Translation: “How the hell?”
Commonly encountered in phrase: “Siapa, sih?” Translation: “Who the hell?”
Commonly encountered in phrase: “Apa, sih?” Translation: “What the hell?”
sok
Usage: In conjunction with an adjective to express irony in the form of an insult.
Definition: You think you’re so…
Commonly encountered in phrase: “Sok pintar!”Translation: “Smarty pants!”
Commonly encountered in phrase: “Sok kaya!” Translation: “You think you’re so rich!”
toh
Usage: After a phrase, to express emphasis about what should be obvious to another.
Definition: Duh
Commonly encountered in phrase: “Ya, pasti, toh!” Translation: “Yes, of course, duh!”