The Meanings of Baru, Not Just ‘New’

When you search this word in a dictionary or Google Translate, the result you will get is most likely ‘new’. Yes, baru means ‘new’ in most contexts. But it also has other functions in different situations.

Baru + noun

When you see the word baru along with a noun, that’s when it means ‘new’. This happens when baru becomes the modifier of the noun in the sentence. Look at the following examples:

1. Kakek punya anjing baru. (Grandpa has a new dog)
2. Mobil barumu bagus banget. (Your new car looks so good)
3. Rumah baru yang besar itu rumahmu? (Is the new big house yours?)

Baru + verb / adverb

Baru can come before a verb or an adverb sometimes. The closest meaning is ‘have just’. For example:

1. Adik baru masuk sekolah, jadi belum ada PR. (My little sister just started school, so no homework yet)
2. Ini baru jam 8, tapi udah panas. (It’s just 8, but it’s so hot already)
3. Udah capek? Baru 5 menit doang. Kan masih 3 jam lagi pulangnya. (You’ve been tired? It’s just been 5 minutes. We still have 3 more hours before we go home)

Baru Aja

Baru saja (formal) or baru aja (informal) means ‘just now’. Look at the following sentences to learn how to use it:

1. Warung padangnya baru aja tutup. (The warung padang is closed just now)
2. Siapa tuh yang baru aja keluar? (Who was it that just went out?)
3. Bapak udah berangkat kerja, Nek. Baru aja. (Dad has left for work, Granny. Just now)

Baru-Baru Ini

Baru-baru ini means ‘lately’ or ‘recently’. It has an exact synonym called ahir-ahir ini. Let’s see how it’s used in the sentences below:

1. Ada kabar apa baru-baru ini? (What’s the news recently?)
2. Baru-baru ini ada kecelakaan kereta api di Jakarta. (Lately there was a train accident in Jakarta)
3. Aku pindahannya baru-baru aja sih, jadi belum tahu tempat main. (I just recently moved in, so I don’t know much about places to hang out)

The big question is, is it possible to find multiple baru with different functions in one sentence? The answer is yes, it is! In fact, it is quite common. Look at the following examples:

1. Saya tersesat karena baru pindah ke lingkungan baru. (I’m lost because I’ve just moved to a new environment)
2. Baju baruku baru dicuci, jadi masih putih bersih. (My new clothes have just been washed, so they’re still pure white and clean)
3. Baru-baru ini ada trend baru di Instagram. (Lately there’s a new trend on Instagram)
4. Sofa barunya baru aja sampai. (The new sofa has just arrived)
5. Tadi saya baru dikasih tahu kalo ada tetangga baru. (I was just told that there’s a new neighbor)

That’s all for the different functions and meanings of baru. Good luck, and remember: practice makes perfect!