abang
[a.baŋ]Rumi
The English word 'brother' is translated into Malay as abang or adik lelaki.
Meaning: male sibling (noun)
Ways to say it
| Malay | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| abang | [a.baŋ] (narrow) | Rumi |
| adik lelaki | /ˌadik ləˈlaki/ /ˌadek ləˈlaki/ |
Rumi |
In Malay culture, abang is often used as a respectful way to address any older male, even if they are not biological brothers. The phrase Adik lelaki translates to younger brother and is used for a brother who is younger than you.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase adik lelaki is composed of adik (younger sibling) and lelaki (male/man).
How does it change in a sentence?
To say 'my brother', you place the possessive pronoun saya (I/my) after the noun abang.
Did you know?
- In romantic relationships, a woman may call her husband or boyfriend abang as a term of endearment.
- In some regions such as Riau and the south of the Malay Peninsula, the word abang was once used to refer to an older sister.
- While abang is used for an older brother, the term adik is gender-neutral and refers to any younger sibling regardless of sex.
Examples in context
- Abang, boleh tolong adik tak?Could you help me, brother?This sentence shows how to use abang when asking for help.Tatoeba #1923859 by Adou_Fr, translation #7593081 by feudalism
- Tom ialah abang saya, bukannya ayah saya.Tom is my brother, not my father.This sentence demonstrates the use of abang to identify a sibling.Tatoeba #10657689 by imperiex, translation #9341961 by CK
- Abang saya lapan tahun lebih tua daripada saya.My brother is eight years older than me.This sentence uses abang to describe a brother's age relative to oneself.Tatoeba #10688615 by imperiex, translation #2188837 by CN
- Terima kasih, Abang.Thank you, brother.
- 2 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Farah asks Hafiz about his older brother.
- FarahHafiz ada abang tak?Do you have an older brother, Hafiz?
- HafizAda, abang saya tinggal di Kuala Lumpur.Yes, my brother lives in Kuala Lumpur.
- FarahDia bekerja sebagai guru ke?Does he work as a teacher?
- HafizYa, abang saya seorang guru sekolah rendah.Yes, my brother is a primary school teacher.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “brother” translations and entries abang, adik lelaki, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries abang, adik, adik lelaki, lelaki, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
