Indonesian · A1 (Beginner)
Family in Indonesian: Words & Phrases
Quick answer: The most useful Indonesian words for family are ibu (mother / Mrs (honorific)), bapak / ayah (father / Mr (honorific)) and saudari / kakak perempuan (sister / older sister). The full Indonesian family phrase list with example sentences is below.
The essential Indonesian vocabulary for family, with example sentences and English translations. This is A1 (Beginner) material — exactly the kind of practical language you need when you're learning Indonesian to live, work, or settle abroad.
Source: Language Lab's Indonesian curriculum (vocabulary & example sentences). · Join the beta →
Key family vocabulary
| Indonesian | English |
|---|---|
| ibu | mother / Mrs (honorific) |
| bapak / ayah | father / Mr (honorific) |
| saudari / kakak perempuan | sister / older sister |
| saudara / kakak laki-laki | brother / older brother |
| keluarga | family |
| orang tua | parents |
| anak laki-laki | son |
| anak perempuan | daughter |
| paman | uncle |
| bibi | aunt |
Example sentences
Nama ibu saya Dewi.
My mother's name is Dewi.
Bapak saya bekerja di Jakarta.
My father works in Jakarta.
Saya punya kakak perempuan.
I have an older sister.
Kakak laki-laki saya berumur sepuluh tahun.
My older brother is ten years old.
Keluarga saya tinggal di Bandung.
My family lives in Bandung.
Orang tua saya dari Yogyakarta.
My parents are from Yogyakarta.
How to actually learn these
Reading a vocabulary list is not the same as being able to use the words when it counts. Research on adult language acquisition consistently shows that vocabulary retained through contextual use — hearing a word, producing it under mild pressure, and being corrected when you get it wrong — transfers to real speech far more effectively than passive list review. The fastest way to make vocabulary like this stick is to practise it in the actual conversations where it comes up: not drills, but a real back-and-forth where you have to retrieve the word and say it aloud. Language Lab turns vocabulary like this into voiced, real-life scenarios with Sonia, a live AI language tutor who holds real conversations, corrects you in context, and remembers the specific words you keep getting wrong across sessions. The vocabulary stops being something you read and becomes something you say — automatically, under pressure, when you actually need it.
Practice Indonesian that actually sticks.
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