Learn Hardcore Indonesian: Jawaban kamu tepat.

Indonesian simply puts them together: [subject] + [adjective].
So Jawaban kamu tepat literally feels like “Your answer correct”, but it’s the normal way to say “Your answer is correct.” in Indonesian. No extra word for “is” is needed.

Why is kamu after jawaban instead of before it? Can I say Kamu jawaban tepat?

In Indonesian, possession is usually shown by putting the possessor after the noun:

jawaban kamu = your answer
rumah saya = my house
mobil dia = his/her car

So jawaban kamu is the normal pattern: [noun] + [possessor].
Kamu jawaban tepat is not grammatical. If you start with kamu, it would have to be a different structure, like:

Kamu tepat. = You are correct.

But that no longer mentions “answer”; it’s commenting directly on you, not on your answer.

What’s the difference between jawaban kamu and jawabanmu?

Both mean “your answer”, but they differ in style:

jawaban kamu – more neutral and slightly clearer for learners; two separate words.
jawabanmu – more informal/colloquial and a bit more compact; -mu is an enclitic pronoun attached to the noun.

You can use Jawabanmu tepat in the same situations as Jawaban kamu tepat, especially in casual speech or writing (texts, chats).
They are both very common and both correct.

Is kamu always appropriate? When would I use something else, like Anda?

kamu is informal, used with friends, peers, people of similar age, or younger people. In more polite or formal situations, you usually switch:

To sound polite/formal to a stranger or customer:
Jawaban Anda tepat. (Anda = formal “you”)
To speak respectfully to an older person, teacher, etc.:
Jawaban Bapak tepat. (to an older man)
Jawaban Ibu tepat. (to an older woman)

So Jawaban kamu tepat is fine in casual contexts, but may feel too informal in a formal email, in customer service, or when speaking to someone you must respect.

What’s the difference between tepat, benar, and betul? Which is best here?

All three can relate to “right/correct”, but with slightly different nuances:

tepat: correct in the sense of accurate, exact, appropriate.
benar: correct in the sense of true / not wrong / in accordance with facts or rules.
betul: very similar to benar, often used in everyday speech; can sound a bit more casual.

In the context of an exam question or a precise answer, all are natural:

Jawaban kamu tepat.
Jawaban kamu benar.
Jawaban kamu betul.

tepat slightly emphasizes that the answer fits exactly or is spot-on, but to most speakers, the three sentences feel almost interchangeable in everyday use.

Can I add “very” or another intensifier? Where does it go?

Yes, you usually put intensifiers before the adjective in Indonesian. Common ones:

sangat tepat = very / extremely correct
benar-benar tepat = really / truly correct
cukup tepat = quite / fairly correct

So you can say:

Jawaban kamu sangat tepat. = Your answer is very accurate.
Jawaban kamu benar-benar tepat. = Your answer is really spot-on.

The word order pattern is [subject] + [intensifier] + [adjective].

What exactly is jawaban? Is it related to a verb?

Yes. jawaban is a noun formed from the root jawab (to answer).

jawab = to answer (verb root)
menjawab = to answer (full verb form)
jawaban = answer (noun: the answer itself)

The suffix -an is often used to turn a verb root into a related noun.
So jawaban is “the thing resulting from answering” → “answer.”

Can I drop kamu and just say Jawaban tepat?

Yes, you can, but the meaning becomes less specific:

Jawaban kamu tepat. = Your answer is correct.
Jawaban tepat. = The answer is correct. (no explicit “your”)

In context, people might still understand that you are referring to their answer, but grammatically it’s just “The answer is correct.”
Dropping the pronoun is normal if it’s already clear whose answer you’re talking about.

How would I say “Your answers are correct” (plural)?

Indonesian doesn’t always mark plural forms, so you often keep it simple:

Jawaban kamu tepat.
→ could mean “Your answer is correct” or “Your answers are correct,” depending on context.

If you really want to show plurality, you can say:

Jawaban-jawaban kamu tepat. = Your answers are correct.
Semua jawaban kamu tepat. = All your answers are correct.

The second option (Semua jawaban kamu tepat) sounds the most natural in everyday speech.

What’s the basic grammatical structure of Jawaban kamu tepat?

It’s a simple subject–predicate sentence:

Subject: Jawaban kamu (your answer)
Predicate: tepat (correct/accurate)

In Indonesian, adjectives can directly serve as predicates without a verb, so tepat functions like the “is correct” part.
So structurally it’s [noun phrase] + [adjective].

How do I turn this into a question like “Is my answer correct?” in Indonesian?

You usually:

Change kamu (you) to saya (I), because now you’re talking about your own answer.
Optionally add apakah or use question intonation.

Examples:

Jawaban saya tepat? (informal, spoken – rising intonation)
Apakah jawaban saya tepat? (more neutral/formal)

Both correspond to “Is my answer correct?” in English.

How is the sentence pronounced and where is the stress?

Pronunciation (roughly, in English-like spelling):

Jawaban → jah-wah-bahn
kamu → kah-moo
tepat → tuh-paht (short vowels)

Stress in Indonesian is usually on the second-to-last (penultimate) syllable:

ja-WA-ban
KA-mu
te-PAT

So the natural rhythm is ja-WA-ban KA-mu te-PAT.