mengapa

From Malay mengapa, from Proto-Malayic *mAŋ-apa, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *maŋ-apa, equivalent to meng- +‎ apa.

• IPA^(key): /mə.ŋa.pa/
• Rhymes: -pa, -a

mengapa

1. why (for what reason)

• (informal) kenapa

• “mengapa” in Kamus Besar Bahasa Indonesia, Jakarta: Agency for Language Development and Cultivation – Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology of the Republic of Indonesia, 2016.

meng- +‎ apa, from Proto-Malayic *mAŋ-apa, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *maŋ-apa.

• (Johor-Selangor) IPA^(key): /məŋapə/
• (Riau-Lingga) IPA^(key): /məŋapa/
• Rhymes: -apə, -pə, -ə

mengapa (Jawi spelling مڠاڤ)

1. why (for what reason)
   • 773 AH, Hikayat Bayan Budiman:

     "معاڡا كامو كمارى دں ٮىدک ٮرٮاع ٮرساما ٮماں-ٮمٮمو؟…"

     “... Mengapa kau kemari dan tidak terbang bersama teman-temanmu?”

     Why have you returned, instead of flying with your peers?

• kenapa

• Indonesian: mengapa

• “mengapa” in Pusat Rujukan Persuratan Melayu | Malay Literary Reference Centre, Kuala Lumpur: Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka, 2017.