Apa kata kita kurangkan kelantangan?

In this sentence, apa kata is an idiomatic way to make a suggestion.

Literally, apa = what and kata can mean word / say, so the literal sense feels like what say.... But in real usage, apa kata ...? means:

• How about ...?
• What if ...?
• What do you say we ...?

So it is not really asking for a definition of something. It is a soft, conversational way to suggest an action.

Malay has two different words for we:

• kita = we, including the listener
• kami = we, excluding the listener

So in Apa kata kita kurangkan kelantangan?, kita includes both the speaker and the person being spoken to. That fits the tone of a shared suggestion: Let’s lower the volume / How about we lower the volume?

If you used kami, it would sound odd here, because that would mean we (but not you).

Kurangkan comes from the root kurang, which is related to less / lacking / reduced.

With the suffix -kan, it becomes a verb meaning to reduce, to lessen, or to make something less.

So:

• kurang = less / insufficient / reduced
• kurangkan = reduce it / lower it / make it less

In this sentence, kurangkan means reduce or turn down.

Because kurangkan is the verb form used when something is being reduced.

Compare the difference:

• kurang often describes a state: less, not enough, lacking
• kurangkan means to reduce something

Here, kelantangan is the thing being reduced, so the verb needs to mean reduce rather than just be less.

That is why kurangkan kelantangan is natural, while kurang kelantangan would not express the same idea properly in this sentence.

Kelantangan means loudness or volume level.

It is built from lantang, which means loud or clear and strong-sounding, especially for a voice. The pattern ke-...-an often forms nouns in Malay.

So:

• lantang = loud / clear-sounding
• kelantangan = loudness / volume

In context, kelantangan refers to the level of sound, like the volume of music, TV, a speaker, or someone’s voice.

Yes. It sounds fairly polite and indirect.

Apa kata kita ...? is softer than giving a direct command. It suggests cooperation rather than ordering someone around.

Compare:

• Apa kata kita kurangkan kelantangan? = soft suggestion
• Kurangkan kelantangan. = direct command: Lower the volume.

So this sentence is useful when you want to sound tactful, friendly, or non-confrontational.

It can refer to both.

Depending on context, kelantangan can mean:

• the volume of a TV, radio, phone, or speaker
• the loudness of someone’s voice
• sound level more generally

So the sentence could be used in different situations, such as:

• music is too loud
• the TV is too loud
• someone is speaking too loudly

Context tells you what kind of loudness is being talked about.

Yes, absolutely. That is also natural.

Adding kalau gives a slightly fuller structure:

• Apa kata kita kurangkan kelantangan?
• Apa kata kalau kita kurangkan kelantangan?

Both mean essentially the same thing. The version with kalau can feel a bit more explicitly like How about if we lower the volume?

In everyday speech, speakers may use either one.

Yes, this word order is the most natural standard pattern for this kind of suggestion:

Apa kata + kita + verb + object

So:

• Apa kata = suggestion opener
• kita = inclusive we
• kurangkan = reduce
• kelantangan = loudness / volume

That makes the sentence flow naturally as a suggestion.

You may hear shortened or more casual variations in speech, but this version is clear and standard.

Yes. It is a very useful pattern.

You can use Apa kata kita ...? whenever you want to suggest doing something together.

For example:

• Apa kata kita pergi sekarang? = How about we go now?
• Apa kata kita berehat dulu? = How about we rest first?
• Apa kata kita bincang semula? = How about we discuss it again?

So this sentence is a good model for making polite suggestions in Malay.

Both involve a suggestion, but the tone is a little different.

• Apa kata kita kurangkan kelantangan? = How about we lower the volume?
  Softer, more tentative, more discussion-like.

• Mari kita kurangkan kelantangan. = Let’s lower the volume.
  More direct and encouraging, but still not harsh.

So if you want to sound especially gentle or diplomatic, Apa kata kita ...? is often better.