Jawaban itu salah.

That answer is wrong.

Breakdown of Jawaban itu salah.

• adalah: to be
• itu: that
• jawaban: the answer
• salah: wrong

Questions & Answers about Jawaban itu salah.

What does each word in Jawaban itu salah mean, and what are their roles?

• Jawaban = answer (a noun). From the root jawab (to answer) + the nominalizing suffix -an.
• itu = that/the (a demonstrative). Here it points to a specific, known answer.
• salah = wrong/incorrect (an adjective functioning as the predicate).

Structure: Subject noun phrase (Jawaban itu) + predicate adjective (salah) = That/The answer is wrong.

Why is there no word for is? Do I need adalah or ialah here?

Indonesian usually drops a copula in simple equational sentences with adjectives. You say Jawaban itu salah, not Jawaban itu adalah salah.

• adalah/ialah are mainly used to link a subject to a noun phrase, especially in formal writing: Dia adalah guru (He is a teacher). With adjectives, omit them.

What exactly does itu convey here? Is it that or the?

itu can mean:

• that (deictic: physically/mentally “over there” or previously mentioned): Jawaban itu salah = That answer is wrong.
• the (definiteness: a specific, known item): often translates as the in English.

Placement: demonstratives typically follow the noun (buku itu, jawaban itu). As a standalone pronoun, Itu can mean That.

How do I say just That’s wrong?

• Itu salah. (That’s wrong.)
• In context, just Salah! also works, but it’s blunt.

What’s the difference between Jawaban itu salah and Itu jawaban yang salah?

• Jawaban itu salah states a fact about a specific answer: That answer is wrong.
• Itu jawaban yang salah points out/identifies which one is the wrong answer among options: That is the wrong answer. The yang marks the adjective as a modifier of the noun.

How do I say Your answer is wrong, politely or informally?

• Informal: Jawabanmu salah. / Jawaban kamu salah.
• Formal/polite (to a stranger, customer, etc.): Jawaban Anda salah.
• Plural you: Jawaban kalian salah.
• Contextual/neutral with -nya (can mean his/her/your/the): Jawabannya salah. Meaning depends on context.

How can I soften That answer is wrong to sound less direct?

Use hedges or gentler adjectives:

• Maaf, jawaban itu kurang tepat. (Sorry, that answer is not quite accurate.)
• Sepertinya jawaban itu tidak tepat. (It seems that answer isn’t accurate.)
• Saya rasa jawaban itu belum benar. (I think that answer isn’t correct yet.)
• Mungkin ada sedikit kekeliruan. (There might be a small mistake.)

How do I ask Is that answer wrong?

• Neutral/formal: Apakah jawaban itu salah?
• Colloquial: Jawaban itu salah? (just use rising intonation)

How do I say Those answers are wrong?

• Jawaban-jawaban itu salah. (plural via reduplication)
• Or quantify: Semua jawaban itu salah. (All those answers are wrong.)
• Colloquial: Jawaban itu salah semua.

Is there a nuance difference among salah, tidak benar, and keliru?

• salah = wrong/incorrect (direct, common).
• tidak benar = not correct (often slightly softer or more literal).
• keliru = mistaken/erroneous (sounds a bit softer or more formal). Opposites: benar (correct), tepat (accurate/precise).

How do I say not wrong? Do I use tidak or bukan?

Use tidak with adjectives: Jawaban itu tidak salah (That answer is not wrong). Use bukan to negate nouns: Itu bukan jawaban yang salah (That is not the wrong answer). Don’t say bukan salah to negate the adjective.

Can I drop itu and just say Jawaban salah?

• As a full sentence, Jawaban salah is unusual; it reads more like a noun phrase (wrong answer[s]) or a label.
• As a sentence, prefer Itu salah, Jawaban itu salah, or just Salah (in context).

How do I pronounce Jawaban itu salah?

Roughly: jah-WAH-bahn EE-too SAH-lah.

• Each vowel is pure: a (father), i (machine), u (food).
• Final h in salah is pronounced.
• Indonesian has fairly even syllable timing; no heavy stress like in English.

What’s the difference between jawaban, balasan, respons/respon, and tanggapan?

• jawaban: an answer to a question.
• balasan: a reply to a message/letter/favor.
• respons/respon: a response (often institutional or reactive).
• tanggapan: a comment/feedback/opinion in response to something.

What related word forms should I know?

• From jawab: menjawab (to answer), jawabannya (the answer/his-her answer), terjawab (answered).
• From salah: kesalahan (a mistake), menyalahkan (to blame), disalahkan (to be blamed), salah paham (misunderstand).

Can I change the word order, like Itu jawaban… or use yang?

Yes, but meanings shift:

• Jawaban itu salah = That answer is wrong (statement about it).
• Itu jawaban yang salah = That is the wrong answer (identifying which one).
• To say that wrong answer (as a noun phrase): jawaban yang salah itu. Example: Jawaban yang salah itu membuat soal menjadi rancu (That wrong answer made the problem confusing).