Greetings and Introductions
Master the fundamentals of Indonesian language
Module 1: Greetings and Introductions
Skill 3: Asking About Origin & Nationality
1. Description
Talking about where someone is from is a natural part of getting to know each other. In Indonesian, you can ask about someone's origin (place they come from) and nationality using simple structures.
In this lesson, you will learn:
- How to ask and answer "Where are you from?"
- How to say your nationality.
- How to respond politely in a conversation.
2. Key Vocabulary
| Indonesian | English | Usage Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Dari mana Anda? | Where are you from? | Formal |
| Dari mana kamu? | Where are you from? | Informal |
| Saya dari … | I am from … | Neutral |
| Orang … | A person from … (nationality) | e.g. Orang Indonesia = Indonesian |
| Negara | Country | For talking about countries |
| Kota | City | For talking about cities |
| Anda berasal dari mana? | Where do you come from? | Formal / polite |
| Saya orang … | I am (nationality) | Informal/casual |
| Senang bertemu dengan orang … | Nice to meet a … person | Polite compliment |
3. Examples & Mini Dialogues
Dialogue 1 – Formal
A: Dari mana Anda, Bu Sinta?
B: Saya dari Jakarta.
A: Oh, senang bertemu dengan orang Jakarta.
Dialogue 2 – Informal
A: Kamu dari mana?
B: Saya dari Surabaya. Kamu?
A: Saya orang Bandung.
Dialogue 3 – Talking about nationality
A: Anda berasal dari mana?
B: Saya dari Timor Leste. Saya orang Timor Leste.
4. Practice
A. Fill in the blanks:
- Saya dari ______. (I am from Bali)
- Dari ______ kamu? (Where are you from?)
- Saya ______ Indonesia. (I am Indonesian)
B. Translate to Indonesian:
- Where do you come from? (formal)
- I am from Singapore.
- Nice to meet a Japanese person.
5. Answer Key & Explanation
A. Fill in the blanks
- Bali
- mana
- orang
B. Translation
- Anda berasal dari mana?
- Saya dari Singapura.
- Senang bertemu dengan orang Jepang.
Explanation:
- Saya dari … states your place of origin.
- Orang + country is how you say your nationality in Indonesian.
- Dari mana kamu? is casual, Dari mana Anda? is polite/formal.