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Learn Hardcore Indonesian: Sudahkah kita berkenalan? - Have we introduced ourselves yet?

Hardcore Indonesian
/Lesson 32
/Sudahkah kita berkenalan?

Sudahkah kita berkenalan?

Word

Sudahkah kita berkenalan?

Meaning

Have we introduced ourselves yet?

Part of speech

sentence

Pronunciation

Course

Hardcore Indonesian

Lesson

Breakdown of Sudahkah kita berkenalan?

question marker

to get acquainted

Questions & Answers about Sudahkah kita berkenalan?

What does "sudahkah" do here, exactly?

sudah = already/already done (perfective aspect)
-kah = a clitic that turns the clause into a yes/no question and adds a formal/polite tone So Sudahkah kita berkenalan? means “Have we (already) introduced ourselves (to each other)?” Without -kah, you can say:
Kita sudah berkenalan? (casual)
Apakah kita sudah berkenalan? (neutral/polite)

Why is it kita and not kami?

kita = we (including you, the listener)
kami = we (excluding you) The question includes the addressee, so kita is correct. Sudahkah kami berkenalan? would mean “Have we (not including you) been introduced (to someone else)?”, which is not what you normally say to the person you’re addressing.

What exactly does berkenalan mean, and how is it different from related words?

kenal = to know/be acquainted with (someone)
berkenalan = to get acquainted; to introduce ourselves (reciprocal/intransitive)
perkenalan = an introduction (noun)
memperkenalkan = to introduce (someone) (transitive)
Set phrase: Perkenalkan, saya… = “Allow me to introduce myself, I’m…” Example: Saya berkenalan dengan Budi kemarin. = “I got acquainted with Budi yesterday.”

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Is this the same as English “Have we met?”

Not exactly. Berkenalan suggests a mutual introduction (exchanging names). For “Have we met?” (as in “Have we ever seen each other before?”), Indonesians usually say:

Apakah kita sudah pernah bertemu? / Kita pernah ketemu? For “Do we already know each other?”:
Apakah kita sudah kenal?

How would people say this more casually?

Kita udah kenalan belum?
Udah kenalan belum?
Kita udah pernah ketemu?
Invitation: Kenalan, yuk. (“Let’s get acquainted.”)

How should I answer this naturally?

Reply with Sudah or Belum (rather than just yes/no):

Sudah. Senang bertemu.
Belum. Perkenalkan, saya [Name]. / Nama saya [Name]. If the question is Apakah…, Ya/Tidak is possible, but with sudah it’s more natural to say Sudah/Belum.

Can I omit the subject?

Yes. Subject-dropping is common when context is clear:

Sudah berkenalan?
Udah kenalan belum? Here, kita (“we”) is understood.

Do I need dengan after berkenalan?

Not when the other party is obvious (as with kita). Use berkenalan dengan + person to specify:

Saya berkenalan dengan Budi. In casual speech, kenalan sama [Name] is also common.

Is the word order fixed?

No. All of these work, with different tones:

Sudahkah kita berkenalan? (polite/formal)
Apakah kita sudah berkenalan? (neutral)
Kita sudah berkenalan? (casual)
Kita sudah berkenalan, belum? (very casual “yet?” check) Attaching -kah to sudah is the natural choice here; alternatives like Berkenalankah kita? sound stiff/unnatural in conversation.

How formal is this sentence? Any alternatives?

Very formal/written: Apakah kita telah berkenalan? / Telahkah kita berkenalan? (rare in speech)
Polite/neutral: Sudahkah kita berkenalan?
Casual: Kita udah kenalan belum? To add politeness, use forms of address: Sudahkah kita berkenalan, Pak/Bu/Mas/Mbak?

What are some useful follow-ups after asking this?

If not yet: Belum? Perkenalkan, saya [Name]. / Nama saya [Name].
If yes: Senang bertemu dengan Anda/kamu.
Introducing someone else: Saya memperkenalkan [Name]. / Ini [Name].

What’s the difference between sudah and pernah in this kind of question?

sudah = already/by now; checks whether the action has been completed up to this point. Example: Sudahkah kita berkenalan?
pernah = ever/at least once at any time in the past. Example: Apakah kita pernah berkenalan sebelumnya? / Kita pernah ketemu? You can combine them for clarity: Apakah kita sudah pernah bertemu?

Any spelling or pronunciation tips?

Sudahkah is written as one word (the clitic -kah attaches to sudah).
Pronunciation:
- sudahkah: soo-dah-kah (even stress; rising intonation for the question)
- berkenalan: ber-ke-na-lan (rolled/tapped r; the first e is a schwa)

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