Indonesian · A2 (Elementary)
Family in Indonesian: Words & Phrases
Quick answer: The most useful Indonesian words for family are suami (husband), istri (wife) and anak laki-laki (son). 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 A2 (Elementary) 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 |
|---|---|
| suami | husband |
| istri | wife |
| anak laki-laki | son |
| anak perempuan | daughter |
| kakek | grandfather |
| nenek | grandmother |
| mertua | parent-in-law |
| ipar | sibling-in-law |
| keponakan laki-laki | nephew |
| keponakan perempuan | niece |
Example sentences
Suami saya berasal dari Kalimantan.
My husband is from Kalimantan.
Istri saya bekerja sebagai dokter.
My wife works as a doctor.
Anak laki-laki saya berumur lima tahun.
My son is five years old.
Anak perempuan saya pergi ke sekolah.
My daughter goes to school.
Kakek saya tinggal di Jawa.
My grandfather lives in Java.
Mertua saya memasak dengan sangat baik.
My parent-in-law cooks very well.
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.
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