Breakdown of Lampu di langit-langit berkedip malam ini.
lampu
the light
di
on
malam ini
tonight
langit-langit
the ceiling
Questions & Answers about Lampu di langit-langit berkedip malam ini.
What does langit-langit mean? I know langit is sky.
Langit-langit is a fixed word meaning ceiling. While langit on its own means sky, reduplication here doesn’t make it plural; it creates a new noun. So it’s the ceiling, not the skies.
Why is there a hyphen in langit-langit? Does it mark plural?
The hyphen marks reduplication. Reduplication can indicate plurality in some cases, but for many words it forms a new lexical item. Langit-langit is one of those; it’s not plural, just the standard spelling of the word ceiling.
Is lampu singular or plural here? How do I say a specific lamp or several lamps?
Indonesian doesn’t mark number by default, so lampu can mean lamp or lamps. To be specific:
- one lamp: sebuah lampu or satu lampu
- several/some lamps: beberapa lampu
- many lamps: banyak lampu
- all the lamps: semua lampu
- definite the: add itu after the noun phrase, e.g., Lampu di langit-langit itu (the lamp/the lights on the ceiling)
- explicit plural form: lampu-lampu, e.g., Lampu-lampu di langit-langit itu berkedip malam ini.
Do I need yang before di langit-langit?