Pronouns play a significant role in any language. They act as shortcuts for people, things, and ideas, making sentences more dynamic and less repetitive. Basically, pronouns are words we use in place of names or objects. They help keep sentences smooth and clear.
Some of the most commonly used pronouns in Indonesian are: saya (I), kamu (you), dia (he/she), kami (we), mereka (they), ini (this), and itu (that).
Here’s a breakdown of the six types of pronouns used in Indonesian:
Contents
Personal Pronouns
First-person singular pronouns (saya, aku, beta, daku):
- “Saya sedang membaca buku.” (I am reading a book.)
- “Aku pergi ke sekolah setiap hari.” (I go to school every day.)
- “Beta sangat senang bisa bertemu denganmu.” (I am very happy to meet you.)
- “Daku akan segera pulang ke rumah.” (I will go home soon.)
“Aku” is the more casual version of “saya”. “Beta” and “daku”, while similar to “saya” and “aku”, are less commonly used in contemporary language. Beta” is mainly used in some regional dialects, particularly in certain parts of eastern Indonesia, such as Ambonese Malay, and some areas of Papua. Meanwhile, “daku” carries a rather archaic or poetic tone, often linked with traditional or literary contexts. They are used when the speaker wants to convey a sense of formality, tradition, or poetic expression.
First-person Plural Pronouns (kami, kita)
First-person plural pronouns in Indonesia are used differently from those in English. ‘Kami’ is used to refer to a group that excludes the listener, while ‘kita’ includes the listener in the group.
- “Kami bermain sepak bola bersama di lapangan.” (We play soccer together on the field.)
- “Kita harus bekerja sama untuk mencapai tujuan bersama.” (We have to work together to achieve our goals.)
Second-person Singular Pronouns (kamu, engkau, kau, anda)
Second-person singular pronouns in Indonesia are used depending on formality, intimacy, and context. ‘Kamu’ is the most commonly used informal pronoun for ‘you’, suitable for casual interactions among peers or when addressing someone younger. ‘Engkau’ and ‘kau’ are less common and are usually used in more intimate or poetic contexts, often between close friends, family members, or in works of literature. ‘Anda’ is the formal version of ‘you’, and is used in situations requiring respect or politeness, such as in professional settings, formal speeches, or when addressing elders.
- “Kamu harus belajar dengan giat untuk ujian besok.” (You have to study hard for the test tomorrow.)
- “Apa yang engkau pikirkan?” (What’s on your mind?)
- “Dia suka nasihat yang kauberikan kepada anak itu” (He liked the advice you gave to that child.)
- “Anda sudah makan malam belum?” (Have you had dinner yet?)
Second-person Plural Pronouns (kalian, saudara-saudara)
Unlike in English where ‘you’ can refer to multiple people, ‘kalian’ in Indonesian is exclusively used to refer to a group of people, as opposed to second person singular pronouns such as ‘kamu,’ ‘engkau,’ ‘kau,’ and ‘anda’. Likewise, you can also say “saudara-saudara” (ladies and gentlemen, brothers and sisters) to indicate plurality. For example:
- “Kalian semua diundang ke pesta ulang tahunku.” (You are all invited to my birthday party.)
- “Saudara-saudara, mari kita bersama-sama merayakan kesuksesan ini.” (Ladies and gentlemen, let’s celebrate this success together.)
Third-person Singular Pronouns (dia, ia, beliau)
Please note that the pronoun ‘dia’ can be used as both subject and object, while ‘ia’ can only be used as subject. Also, ‘beliau’ is a polite form of the third-person singular pronoun “dia/ia” in Indonesian. It is used to show respect or formality, particularly when referring to someone of higher status, such as elders, authority figures, or esteemed individuals.
- “Ia sedang membaca buku di taman.” (He/She is reading a book in the park.)
- “Apakah kamu tahu apa yang dia pikirkan?” (Do you have any idea what he/she is thinking?)
- “Hari ini dia ada ujian matematika.” (Today, he/she has a math exam.)
- “Beliau adalah seorang guru yang sangat berpengalaman.” (He/she is a very experienced teacher.)
- “Beliau sedang dalam perjalanan ke luar negeri untuk menghadiri konferensi internasional.” (He/she is currently on a trip abroad to attend an international conference.)
Third-person Plural Pronouns (mereka or they)
- “Mereka pergi berlibur ke pantai selama seminggu.” (They went on vacation to the beach for a week.)
- “Apakah mereka sudah kembali dari perjalanan bisnisnya?” (Have they returned from their business trip yet?)
- “Mereka adalah tim terbaik di liga ini.” (They are the best team in this league.)
Unlike in English, personal pronouns in Indonesian refer exclusively to people. When referring to non-human nouns such as animals, nature and objects, depending on the context, you can either use ‘ia’ or simply repeat the reference word. For example:
- “Hujan deras menyapa kotaku. Ia terus membasahi bumi hingga malam.” (Heavy rain greeted my city, persistently drenching the earth until nightfall.)
- “Diari ini adalah benda kesayanganku. Ia selalu menemaniku ke mana pun aku pergi.” (This diary is my favorite possession. It always accompanies me wherever I go.)
- Dia membawakan sebuah buku. Buku itu di atas meja. (He brought over a book. It is on the table.)
- “Aku tidak sabar untuk datang ke pesta ulang tahunnya. Kuharap pestanya jauh lebih seru dibanding tahun lalu” (I can’t wait to go to his birthday party. I hope it’s going to be even more fun than last year’s.)
Possessive Pronouns
Possessive pronouns replace nouns to indicate ownership. Common possessive pronouns include: -ku (my), -mu (your), and -nya (his/hers/its).
Here are some examples:
- “Dia menemukan kunciku di lantai.” (He found my key on the floor.)
- “Mobilnya terparkir di depan rumahku.” (His car is parked in front of my house.)
- “Tasnya tertinggal di meja belajar.” (Her bag was left on the study table.)
Demonstrative Pronouns
Demonstrative pronouns indicate the location of an object or place. The most commonly ones include: -ini (this), itu (that), sana (there), sini (here), and situ (there). Here are some examples:
- “Saya suka rumah itu.” (I like that house.)
- “Lihatlah mobil mewah ini!” (Look at this fancy car!)
- “Ayo, kita pergi ke sini untuk melihat pemandangan.” (Come on, let’s go over here to see the view.)
- “Lihatlah, anak-anak sedang bermain di sana.” (Look, the children are playing over there.)
- “Apakah kamu sudah pernah ke situ sebelumnya?” (Have you ever been there before?)
Relative Pronouns
Relative pronouns connect a subordinate clause with a noun in the main sentence. The most common relative pronoun in Indonesian is ‘yang.’ Here are some examples:
- “Anak-anak yang bermain di halaman sekolah tampak sangat bahagia.” (The children who are playing in the schoolyard look very happy.)
- “Buku yang saya pinjam dari perpustakaan sangat menarik.” (The book I borrowed from the library is very interesting.)
Interrogative Pronouns
Interrogative pronouns are used to ask questions about objects, people, time, place, or situations. These pronouns help gather specific information by replacing the noun being questioned. Examples include:
- Apa (what): Apa yang kamu makan? (What did you eat?)
- Siapa (who): Siapa yang datang ke pesta? (Who came to the party?)
- Di mana (where): Di mana buku itu? (Where is the book?)
- Kapan (when): Kapan ulang tahunmu? (When is your birthday?)
- Dari mana (from where): Dari mana kamu berasal? (Where are you from?)
- Ke mana (to where): Ke mana kamu pergi liburan? (Where are you going for vacation?)
- Bagaimana (how): Bagaimana cara memasak nasi goreng? (How does one cook fried rice?)
- Berapa (how much): Berapa harga baju itu? (How much does that shirt cost?)
- Mengapa (why): Mengapa kamu menangis? (Why are you crying?)
Indefinite Pronouns
Indefinite pronouns are used to refer to nonspecific people or things. Examples include siapa pun (anyone), setiap (each, every), sesuatu (something), seseorang (someone), and para (some).
- “Siapa pun bisa bergabung dalam klub bahasa ini, tidak ada batasan usia.” (Anyone can join this language club, there is no age limit.)
- “Setiap kesalahan memberikan pelajaran berharga bagi kita.” (Every mistake offers valuable lessons for us.)
- “Sesuatu yang aneh terjadi di sekitar rumah semalam.” (Something strange was happening around the house last night.)
- “Seseorang telah meninggalkan payung di dalam ruang rapat.” (Someone left an umbrella in the meeting room.)
- “Para tamu sudah tiba dan berbincang-bincang di ruang tunggu.” (Some guests have arrived and are chatting in the waiting room.)
Just like in other languages, Indonesian pronouns are essential for expressing ideas more naturally and coherently in conversation or writing. They help clarify who’s doing what and who owns what. So, next time you’re chatting in Indonesian, pay attention to these little words that make a big difference!
What to Read Next
- Bahasa Indonesia Relative Clauses: How to Master Them with “Yang”
- Bahasa Indonesia: Sentence Structure Part 1
- Bahasa Indonesia: Sentence Structure Part 2
- Bahasa Indonesia Verb Affixation: Understanding How Verbs Change
- Basic Indonesian Grammar Foundation
- Conjunctions and Connectors: How to Join Clauses, Phrases, and Words in Indonesian
- Word Order in Bahasa Indonesia