Names for Family Members in Indonesian: Fun & Easy Game-Based Learning
Talking about family is one of the most common topics of conversation in Indonesia. That’s why in this article, we’ll introduce you to the most useful Bahasa Indonesia words for family members. We’ll also cover some basic phrases and give you real-life examples, so when you’re in an Indonesian-speaking environment, you’ll know exactly how to respond and keep the conversation going. Whether you’re traveling, chatting online, or practicing with friends, you’ll feel more confident speaking in Bahasa Indonesia about your family.
Names for Family Members in Indonesian
| in Indonesian | in English | S |
|---|---|---|
| Ayah / Bapak | Father | |
| Ibu / Mama | Mother | |
| Anak | Child / Children | |
| Anak laki-laki | Son | |
| Anak perempuan | Daughter | |
| Orang tua | Parents | |
| Kakak | Older sibling | |
| Adik | Younger sibling | |
| Kakek | Grandfather | |
| Nenek | Grandmother | |
| Cucu | Grandchild | |
| Paman / Om | Uncle | |
| Bibi / Tante | Aunt | |
| Sepupu | Cousin | |
| Keponakan | Niece / Nephew | |
| Suami | Husband | |
| Istri | Wife | |
| Mertua | Parents-in-law | |
| Menantu | Son/Daughter-in-law | |
| Ipar | Sibling-in-law | |
| Pacar | Boyfriend / Girlfriend | |
| Tunangan | Fiancé / Fiancée | |
| Jodoh | Soulmate | |
| Cerai | Divorce (to divorce) |
Detailed Explanations
Ayah / Bapak – Father
“Ayah” is the usual word for “dad.” It’s warm and neutral. “Bapak” sounds more formal and is also used when talking respectfully about someone else’s dad or older men in general.
Example: Ayahku suka berkebun. → My dad loves gardening.
Ibu / Mama – Mother
“Ibu” is the polite, respectful term. But in everyday conversations, many people say Mama, Mami, or Bunda. “Ibu” is also how you respectfully call a woman, especially in formal situations (like Ibu Guru = female teacher).
Example: Mama lagi belanja di pasar. → Mom is shopping at the market.
Anak – Child / Children
This word is gender-neutral. You use it to refer to your son or daughter in general.
Example: Saya punya tiga anak. → I have three kids.
Anak laki-laki – Son
Literally means “male child.” You use this when you want to clearly say it’s a boy.
Example: Anak laki-laki saya suka main bola. → My son likes playing soccer.
Anak perempuan – Daughter
Same pattern, but for girls—“female child.”
Example: Anak perempuan saya pintar menggambar. → My daughter is good at drawing.
Orang tua – Parents
Literally means “old people,” but this is the normal way to say “parents” in Indonesian.
Example: Orang tuaku sangat mendukungku. → My parents really support me.
Kakak – Older sibling
This word works for both older brothers and sisters. If you want to be specific, say kakak laki-laki (older brother) or kakak perempuan (older sister). It’s also used as a respectful or friendly way to refer to someone older than you.
Example: Kakakku kuliah di Bandung. → My older sibling is in college in Bandung.
Adik – Younger sibling
Also works for boys or girls. If you want to be clear, add adik laki-laki (younger brother) or adik perempuan (younger sister).
Example: Adikku suka main layangan. → My little sibling likes flying kites.
Kakek – Grandfather
Used for both paternal and maternal grandpas. Very straightforward.
Example: Kakek saya tinggal di desa. → My grandfather lives in the village.
Nenek – Grandmother
Same idea as “Kakek,” but for grandmas. Used for both sides of the family.
Example: Nenekku pintar memasak opor ayam. → My grandma is great at cooking chicken curry.
Cucu – Grandchild
Gender-neutral. Can be cucu laki-laki (grandson) or cucu perempuan (granddaughter).
Example: Dia punya lima cucu. → He/She has five grandchildren.
Paman / Om – Uncle
“Paman” is formal; “Om” is way more common in daily speech, even for men who aren’t your real uncle.
Example: Omku tinggal di Jakarta. → My uncle lives in Jakarta.
Bibi / Tante – Aunt
Same as above: “Bibi” is formal, while “Tante” is what most people say every day.
Example: Tante Rina selalu bawa oleh-oleh. → Aunt Rina always brings souvenirs.
Sepupu – Cousin
One word for all cousins, male or female. Just say sepupu laki-laki or sepupu perempuan if needed.
Example: Sepupuku seumuran denganku. → My cousin is the same age as me.
Keponakan – Niece / Nephew
Another neutral word. Clarify gender if necessary.
Example: Keponakanku baru lahir kemarin. → My niece/nephew was just born yesterday.
Suami – Husband
Used normally in both formal and casual speech.
Example: Suamiku kerja di kantor pajak. → My husband works at the tax office.
Istri – Wife
Same as “Suami”—can be used in everyday speech or formal settings.
Example: Istrinya jago bikin kue. → His wife is really good at baking.
Mertua – Parents-in-law
“Ayah mertua” = father-in-law, “Ibu mertua” = mother-in-law. Use this after marriage.
Example: Aku tinggal bersama mertua. → I live with my in-laws.
Menantu – Son-in-law / Daughter-in-law
Neutral again use menantu laki-laki or menantu perempuan to specify.
Example: Menantu mereka sangat sopan. → Their son/daughter-in-law is very polite.
Ipar – Sibling-in-law
Kakak ipar = older sibling-in-law, adik ipar = younger sibling-in-law.
Example: Aku sering jalan bareng kakak iparku. → I often hang out with my sister-in-law.
Pacar – Boyfriend / Girlfriend
Used for both. Context tells you which. Super common in casual speech.
Example: Aku udah jadian sama pacarku dua tahun. → I’ve been dating my boyfriend/girlfriend for two years.
Tunangan – Fiancé / Fiancée
Someone you’re engaged to. Gender doesn’t change the word.
Example: Kami tunangan sejak tahun lalu. → We’ve been engaged since last year.
Jodoh – Soulmate
A special word that means someone you’re meant to be with—often used in romantic or spiritual contexts.
Example: Dia bukan jodohku, mungkin orang lain. → Maybe he’s not my soulmate, maybe someone else is.
Cerai – To divorce / Divorced
Used when talking about separation after marriage. It can be sensitive depending on the situation.
Example: Orang tuanya sudah cerai sejak lama. → Her parents divorced a long time ago.
👨👩👧👦 Keluarga Inti (Immediate Family)
- Ayah saya bekerja di luar kota.
→ My father works out of town. - Ibu suka membuat kue setiap akhir pekan.
→ My mom loves baking cakes every weekend. - Aku punya dua anak yang sangat aktif.
→ I have two kids who are very energetic. - Anak laki-laki itu suka main bola.
→ That boy loves playing soccer. - Anak perempuan saya senang membaca buku.
→ My daughter loves reading books. - Orang tua saya sangat mendukung pilihan hidupku.
→ My parents really support my life choices.
🧑🤝🧑 Saudara Kandung (Siblings)
- Kakak saya sudah menikah dan punya dua anak.
→ My older sibling is married and has two kids. - Aku sering bertengkar dengan adik waktu kecil.
→ I used to fight with my younger sibling when I was little.
👵👴 Kakek-Nenek (Grandparents & Grandchildren)
- Setiap liburan, kami mengunjungi kakek dan nenek di kampung.
→ Every holiday, we visit grandpa and grandma in the village. - Cucu itu sangat disayang oleh kakek-neneknya.
→ That grandchild is deeply loved by their grandparents.
👨👩👧 Keluarga Besar (Extended Family)
- Paman saya suka bercerita tentang masa mudanya.
→ My uncle loves telling stories about his youth. - Aku sering belajar masak dari tante.
→ I often learn cooking from my aunt. - Sepupu saya tinggal di luar negeri.
→ My cousin lives abroad. - Keponakan saya baru saja belajar berjalan.
→ My niece/nephew just started walking.
💍 Pernikahan & Hubungan (Marriage & Relationship)
- Suami saya hobi memancing.
→ My husband loves fishing. - Istri Andi bekerja sebagai dokter.
→ Andi’s wife works as a doctor. - Aku belum pernah bertemu mertua pacarku.
→ I haven’t met my boyfriend’s parents-in-law yet. - Menantu ibu saya sangat perhatian.
→ My mom’s daughter-in-law is very caring. - Aku suka ngobrol sama kakak ipar.
→ I love chatting with my sister-in-law. - Aku udah jadian sama pacar baruku seminggu.
→ I’ve been dating my new girlfriend/boyfriend for a week. - Mereka sudah tunangan sejak tahun lalu.
→ They’ve been engaged since last year. - Aku rasa dia bukan jodoh aku.
→ I don’t think he/she is my soulmate. - Mereka memutuskan untuk cerai setelah lima tahun menikah.
→ They decided to divorce after five years of marriage.
Other Indonesian Family Terms You Should Know
| Indonesian Term | English Meaning (approx.) |
|---|---|
| Abang / Bang | Older brother (casual, Sumatra/Jakarta) |
| Uda / Da | Older brother (used in West Sumatra) |
| Teteh / Teh | Older sister (used in Sunda/West Java) |
| Mbak | Miss / Older sister (Java, polite) |
| Mas | Mister / Older brother (Java, polite) |
| Bude / Bu De | Aunt (older than your parent) |
| Pakde / Pak De | Uncle (older than your parent) |
| Om / Tante | Uncle / Aunt (used for both family and close friends) |
| Embah / Eyang | Grandparent (used in Javanese culture) |
| Kakak sepupu | Older cousin |
| Adik sepupu | Younger cousin |
Cultural Rules for Family Terms in Indonesia
In Indonesian culture, family terms are not just about blood relations they also reflect respect, age differences, and even regional culture. Here’s what you need to know:
1. Age and Birth Order Matter
In daily life, people don’t just say “brother” or “sister.” They must use the right term depending on who’s older or younger.
- “Kakak” = older sibling (brother or sister)
- “Adik” = younger sibling
- You also apply this to cousins, friends, and even coworkers!
Example:
Dia kakak sepupuku, jadi aku harus sopan.
→ She’s my older cousin, so I need to be respectful.
2. Regional & Cultural Variations
Each region in Indonesia might use different words for family members, even if they mean the same thing.
☕ Javanese:
- Mas = older male (can mean older brother or be used to address a man politely)
- Mbak = older female (used like “Miss” or “big sister”)
- Eyang / Embah = grandparents (used respectfully)
🌾 Sundanese:
- Aa = older brother
- Teteh / Teh = older sister
🐘 Minang / Batak / Other:
- Uda / Da = older brother (Minang)
- Tulang = mother’s brother (Batak)
- Amang = father (Batak)
- Inang = mother (Batak)
These aren’t just used in the home people often use them in the community as well!
3. “Om” and “Tante” for Non-Family
This is a fun and important part of Indonesian culture:
You often call any adult man “Om” and any adult woman “Tante”, even if they’re not related to you.
Example:
Aku dipanggil Om sama anak tetangga.
→ The neighbor’s kid calls me “Uncle.”
It’s considered polite and friendly, and helps maintain social closeness.
4. Older Relatives Have Special Titles
In Javanese culture:
- Pakde = uncle who is older than your father
- Bude = aunt who is older than your mother
They are used to show respect based on age among relatives.
Example:
Pakde selalu kasih nasihat soal hidup.
→ My elder uncle always gives life advice.
5. Not All Families Use Last Names
Most Indonesians don’t pass down family names like in Western culture. Many people only have one name or a unique combination of names. So family terms like Ayah, Ibu, or Kakak are more important in identifying relationships than surnames.
Game Your Way to Fluency with Langlandia
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