Casual particles: dong, sih, kok, deh, lah

By Speak Indo, from the Speak Indo Indonesian course.

Tiny words that add tone: pleading, mild irritation, surprise, persuasion.

How it works

These particles do not have one fixed English translation. Their meaning changes with placement, intonation, and context: • dong, appeal, encouragement, or insistence: *'Ayo dong!'* = come on! • sih, can mark a topic, soften a stance, or add impatience or curiosity: *'Apa sih?'* • kok, surprise or a challenge to an assumption: *'Kok mahal?'* = how come it is expensive? • deh, acceptance, a suggestion, or closing a choice: *'Iya deh.'* = all right then • lah, emphasis; its tone ranges from reassuring to impatient: *'Iya lah!'* Listen to the whole phrase before copying one. Overusing a particle or using the wrong intonation can make the speaker sound pushy or annoyed.

Examples

• Beli dong, murah!
  Come on, buy it, it's cheap!
• Kok belum datang?
  How come he/she hasn't arrived?
• Iya deh, oke.
  Alright, okay.