Learn Hardcore Indonesian: Kamu di mana?

Yes. Both Kamu di mana? and Di mana kamu? are natural. Putting di mana at the end is very common in everyday speech; putting it first can sound a bit more formal or put focus on the location. A very formal variant is Di mana kamu berada?

Why is there no verb like “are” in this sentence?

Indonesian usually doesn’t use a verb like “to be” in sentences about location. The preposition di (“at/in/on”) links the subject to the place, so Kamu di mana? is literally “You at where?”

What does di mean here, and how is it different from the prefix di-?

Here di is a preposition meaning “at/in/on” and is written as a separate word: di rumah, di Jakarta, di kantor.
The prefix di- marks passive verbs and is attached to the verb: ditulis (written), dibuat (made).
Rule of thumb: preposition di is separate; prefix di- is attached.

Is it di mana or dimana?

Standard Indonesian spells it as two words: di mana. You’ll see dimana in casual texting, but avoid it in formal writing. Many style guides (including KBBI-based guidance) insist on the two-word form for the “where” question.

Do I always need di? Can I say Kamu mana?

Use di mana to ask location; Kamu mana? does not mean “Where are you?” in standard Indonesian. Without di, mana usually means “which.” So stick with Kamu di mana?

What’s the difference between di mana, ke mana, and dari mana?

di mana = at what location (current position): Kamu di mana? (Where are you?)
ke mana = to what place (destination): Kamu ke mana? or Mau ke mana? (Where are you going?)
dari mana = from what place (origin): Kamu dari mana? (Where are you coming from?/Where are you from?)

How polite is kamu? When should I use Anda or other forms?

kamu: casual/neutral with peers or younger people; can feel too direct upward in hierarchy.
Anda: polite/formal for customers, strangers, or formal writing; typically capitalized (Anda).
Addressing older people: use titles like Bapak/Ibu: Bapak/Ibu di mana?
Colloquial Jakarta: lu/lo (you), gue/gw (I).
Plural “you”: kalian.

Can I drop the subject and just say Di mana?

Yes. If context makes it clear who you mean, Di mana? is fine. You can also say Lagi di mana? or Di mana sekarang? to stress “right now.”

How do I answer this question naturally?

Typical patterns:

Aku/Saya di … (I am at …)
Or simply Di … if the subject is obvious.
Common answers: di rumah (at home), di kantor (at the office), di kampus, di Jakarta, di sini/di situ/di sana.
Colloquial: Lagi di kantor. (I’m at the office right now.)

What do lagi and sedang add in this context?

Both can mark a current, ongoing situation. Lagi is more colloquial: Kamu lagi di mana? (Where are you right now?). Sedang is more neutral/formal and is common before verbs; with locations it’s fine in formal contexts: Saya sedang di rapat.

How do I make the question softer or more polite?

Add softeners, time words, or titles:

Sekarang di mana, ya?
Boleh tahu, Bapak/Ibu di mana sekarang?
To a peer: Kamu di mana, ya?
Note: … sih? can show impatience or pressing: Kamu di mana sih?

Can I add time words like “now,” “earlier,” or “yesterday”?

Yes:

Present: (implicit) Kamu di mana (sekarang)?
Earlier: Tadi kamu di mana? (Where were you earlier?)
Yesterday: Kemarin kamu di mana? (Where were you yesterday?)

Is -kah possible for a very formal style?

Yes. Di manakah kamu? is formal/polished (e.g., announcements, writing). In everyday speech you would normally say Kamu di mana? or Di mana kamu?

Are there regional or colloquial pronoun variants?

Yes:

Jakarta slang: Lu di mana? (Where are you?)
Literary/regional: Kau di mana? / Engkau di mana?
Use them only if they match your setting and relationships.

Can di mana be used to ask about progress rather than physical location?

Yes, metaphorically with verbs like “arrive/reach/progress”:

Sudah sampai di mana? (How far along are you?/Where have you reached?)
Proyeknya sudah sampai di mana? (How far is the project now?)