lucu
/lu.t͡ʃu/
The English word "cute" is translated into Indonesian as lucu.
lucu is used to describe something attractive or pleasing in a way that is youthful, dainty, quaint or fun-spirited. However, note that the meaning changes based on the context: when you are describing a person's behavior or a joke, lucu is more commonly understood to mean "funny" rather than "cute".
Meaning: attractive or pleasing in a youthful, dainty, quaint or fun-spirited way (adj)
Which one should you use?
While lucu can mean both "cute" and "funny", you may also encounter the word imut. imut is an informal term specifically used to describe something small, charming and irresistibly cute.
How do you pronounce it?
/lu.tʃu/
Did you know?
- In Indonesian, the term gemas describes the overwhelming feeling of wanting to squeeze something because it is so lucu or imut.
- The word imut is often associated with 'kawaii' culture from Japan, reflecting how East Asian aesthetics have influenced modern Indonesian slang for cuteness.
- The word lucu has a direct linguistic relative in the word lelucon, which means 'a joke'. Both words share the same root, linking the concept of being 'cute' to the concept of being 'funny'.
Examples in context
- Tetapi dia sangat lucu!But he's so cute!This sentence is useful for expressing that someone is very cute using lucu.Tatoeba #3478376 by lewis, translation #3476787 by Hybrid
- Ekormu lucu.Your tail is cute.This sentence is useful for describing a tail as being cute using lucu.Tatoeba #11077608 by HAGNi, translation #11077601 by shekitten
- Anjing itu sangat lucu!That dog is very cute!
- Bayi tersebut benar-benar menggemaskan!That baby is absolutely adorable!
- Sepatu itu benar-benar imut!Those shoes are really cute!
- Kucing itu sangat lucu.That cat is very cute.
Example conversation
Maya shows Dimas a picture of her new puppy.
- MayaLihat, anak anjingku sangat lucu, kan?Look, my puppy is very cute, right?
- DimasIya, dia benar-benar lucu!Yes, he is really cute!
- MayaAku suka sekali warnanya.I really love his color.
- DimasDia terlihat sangat menggemaskan.He looks very adorable.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry lucu, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries lucu, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
