Dudu
Definition & Context
Adverb
A word or phrase that modifies or qualifies an adjective, verb, or other adverb or a word group, expressing a relation of place, time, circumstance, manner, cause, degree, etc.
A “negation” word used in Javanese to deny nouns, noun phrases, or predicates that are nominal in nature.
Synonyms & Variants
bukan
A negation word used to deny a noun or nominal phrase, or to state that something is not what is mentioned.
enggak
An informal form of 'tidak', often used in casual daily conversations.
ora
A negation word in Javanese meaning 'no' or 'not'.
sanés
Polite form in Sundanese to negate nouns.
tiada
Archaic or literary form to express negation or absence.
Usage Notes or Etymology
The word “dudu” originates from the Javanese root dudu which serves as a non-verbal negation marker. Within the syntactic structure of the Javanese language, the usage of dudu is strictly distinguished from “ora”. “Ora” is used to negate verbs or adjectives, while “dudu” is specifically used to negate objects or nouns. This usage is a distinctive feature of the Javanese grammatical system that differentiates negation based on the lexical category of the predicate.
Real-world Usage
Iki dudu buku duwekku, coba takokno mase. (Ini bukan buku milikku, coba tanyakan kakak.)
English Translation
Representative of real-world usage and contextual accuracy.
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