coba

See also: Coba

Indonesian

Alternative forms

• cuba (nonstandard Indonesian, Standard Malay)
• tjoba (1901–1947, 1947–1967)

Etymology

From Malay cuba, coba, from Classical Malay چوبا (cuba), چوبا (coba) (This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.).

Pronunciation

• (Standard Indonesian) IPA^(key): /ˈt͡ʃoba/ [ˈt͡ʃo.ba]
• Rhymes: -oba
• Syllabification: co‧ba

Verb

coba

1. to try

   Synonyms: jajal, tes, uji

2. to sample, to taste

   Synonyms: cicip, icip, jajal

Conjunction

coba

1. if (supposing that)

   Synonyms: jika, kalau, seandainya, seumpamanya

   Coba~ saja tidak aku minum, pasti tidak sembelit

   If only I didn't drink it, I wouldn't had constipation.

Derived terms

Affixed terms and other derivations

Regular affixed derivations:

• pencoba [agentive / qualitative / instrumental / abstract / measure] (peN-)
• cobaan [resultative / locative / collective / variety / verbal noun / fruit] (-an)
• pencobaan [agentive / qualitative / instrumental / abstract / measure + resultative / locative / collective / variety / verbal noun / fruit] (peN- + -an)
• mencoba [agent focus] (meN-)
• cobai [causative (locative) benefactive] (-i)
• mencobai [agent focus + causative (locative) benefactive] (meN- + -i)
• percobaan [causative passive + repetition / reciprocity] (peR- + -an)
• dicoba [patient focus] (di-)
• dicobai [patient focus + causative (locative) benefactive] (di- + -i)

Further reading

• “coba”, in Kamus Besar Bahasa Indonesia [Great Dictionary of the Indonesian Language] (in Indonesian), Jakarta: Agency for Language Development and Cultivation – Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology of the Republic of Indonesia, 2016

Makasar

Etymology

Borrowed from Malay coba (“to try, test”)

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈcoba/, [ˈcço.ba]
• Hyphenation: co‧ba

Conjunction

coba (Lontara spelling ᨌᨚᨅ or 𑻩𑻶𑻤)

1. if (supposing that)

   Synonym: kaʼdeʼ

   Coba kuasseng angkana anunnu, anngallejaʼ

   If I had known it was yours, I would have taken it.

Verb

coba (Lontara spelling ᨌᨚᨅ or 𑻩𑻶𑻤, semi-transitive accoba, passive nicoba)

1. (transitive) to try, taste, test (e.g., to check if something is good or ready)

   Synonym: soʼri

   Cobasài bedeng anne soka ― Taste this soup.

2. (transitive) to put to the test or challenge.

Affixations

• accoba
• paccoba
• paccoba-coba
• paccoba-cobài
• paccobàng
• pacoba

Further reading

• A. A. Cense (2024), Makassaars-Nederlands woordenboek‎^[1], Brill, →DOI

Sarawak Malay

Alternative forms

• cuba

Etymology

From Malay cuba, coba, from Classical Malay چوبا (cuba), چوبا (coba). (This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /tʃo.ba/

Verb

coba

1. to try; to attempt to do.

   Ju coba lok mamak ya.

   Let's try that mamak stall.

2. used to politely order someone to do a task.

   Coba kitak cerik lok.

   Please try it first

Spanish

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈkoba/ [ˈko.β̞a]
• Rhymes: -oba
• Syllabification: co‧ba

Noun

coba f (plural cobas)

1. smarminess; cajolery
2. fib; trick

Derived terms

• dar coba

Further reading

• “coba”, in Diccionario de la lengua española [Dictionary of the Spanish Language] (in Spanish), online version 23.8.1, Royal Spanish Academy [Spanish: Real Academia Española], 15 December 2025

West Makian

Etymology

From Malay coba.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈt͡ʃo.ba/

Conjunction

coba

1. if

   Synonyms: kalau, toi

References

• Clemens Voorhoeve (1982), The Makian languages and their neighbours‎^[2], Pacific linguistics