Learn Hardcore Indonesian: Nama saya Rina; kamu asal mana? - My name is Rina; where are you from?

Nama saya Rina. = “My name (is) Rina.” A linking word like adalah exists, but it’s mostly for formal or written style. In everyday speech you don’t need it: Nama saya Rina, Dia guru (“He’s a teacher”), Saya lapar (“I’m hungry”).

Can I say Saya Rina instead of Nama saya Rina? What’s the difference (and what about Nama saya adalah Rina or Namaku Rina)?

Saya Rina. “I’m Rina.” Direct, very common in introductions.
Nama saya Rina. Emphasizes your name; also very common.
Nama saya adalah Rina. Formal/written; sounds stiff in casual conversation.
Namaku Rina. Casual/informal; uses the possessive suffix -ku for “my.”

Why does the possessive come after the noun (nama saya) instead of before (like “my name”)?

Possession typically follows the noun:

nama saya = my name
namamu / nama kamu = your name
namanya = his/her name Saying saya nama is ungrammatical. Don’t introduce your name with saya punya nama…; for names, use Nama saya… or Saya….

What does asal mean here?

Here asal means “origin/hometown” (where you come from originally). It does not mean “random” or “as long as” (those are other uses, e.g., asalkan = “provided that,” asal-asalan = “careless”).

Is kamu asal mana? correct even though there’s no dari (“from”)?

Yes. With asal, Indonesian often omits dari:

Kamu asal mana?
More explicit or formal: Kamu berasal dari mana?, Asalmu dari mana?, Dari mana asalmu? All are fine; the first is the most casual.

Is kamu polite? How should I ask this politely or to someone older/a stranger?

kamu is neutral–informal and can sound too direct with older people or strangers. Safer options:

Anda berasal dari mana? (formal; capitalized Anda)
Use titles: Asalnya dari mana, Pak/Bu? (to an adult man/woman), Mas/Mbak/Kak asalnya dari mana? (younger adult/peer) Using a title plus third-person style (asalnya) is a common polite strategy.

What’s the nuance difference between kamu asal mana? and kamu dari mana?

kamu asal mana? asks about original origin/hometown/country.
kamu dari mana? can mean either “Where are you from (in general)?” or “Where did you just come from (right now)?” Context decides which.

How do I answer kamu asal mana?

Typical answers:

City/region: Saya dari Bandung. / Asal saya Bandung. / Saya orang Bandung.
Country: Saya dari Amerika Serikat. To add more: Saya asli Bandung, tapi sekarang tinggal di Jakarta. (“I’m originally from Bandung, but now live in Jakarta.”)

Can I drop the pronoun and just ask Asal mana?

Yes. Subjects are often omitted when clear from context:

Asal mana? (very casual)
Politer/softer: Asalnya dari mana? (the -nya softens it, especially with a title: Asalnya dari mana, Pak/Bu?)

Can the question word move? Is Dari mana kamu? also correct?

Yes. Both orders are natural:

Kamu dari mana?
Dari mana kamu? With asal, you’ll hear: Asalmu dari mana? and Dari mana asalmu?

Is the semicolon in Nama saya Rina; kamu asal mana? natural?

In everyday Indonesian, just use a period (or make them two lines):

Nama saya Rina. Kamu asal mana? Semicolons are rare outside formal writing.

Is asal a noun or a verb? And what about berasal?

In this sentence asal is a noun (“origin”). The verb is berasal (“to come from”):

Saya berasal dari Bali. = “I come from Bali.”

Should Anda be capitalized?

Yes. Anda (formal “you”) is capitalized in Indonesian. kamu is not. Titles are capitalized when used as address forms: Pak, Bu, Mas, Mbak, Kak.

Are there regional or slang alternatives to kamu I should know?

Yes, but use them only if they fit the local context:

Jakarta slang: lu/lo/elo (you), with gue/gua (I)
Sumatra/Riau and elsewhere: kau/engkau
East Java (Javanese-influenced Indonesian): sampeyan If unsure, default to a title (Pak/Bu/Mas/Mbak) or formal Anda.