nenek
/ˈnɛnɛʔ/
The English word "grandma" is translated into Indonesian as nenek.
nenek is often used as a generic term for any elderly woman, not just one's own relative.
Meaning: grandmother (informal) (noun)
Which one should you use?
Eyang is a more formal or respectful way to say grandmother, often used in Javanese-influenced Indonesian contexts, whereas oma is an informal Indonesian adaptation of the Dutch word for grandma.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
nenek is a formal way to refer to grandmothers. For even greater formality or to show high respect, especially in Javanese-influenced contexts, use Eyang. In informal settings, the term oma is an informal Indonesian adaptation of the Dutch word for grandma.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈnɛnɛʔ/
Did you know?
- The word Eyang comes from Javanese and is used not only for grandmothers but also for grandfathers.
- In Indonesian folklore and ghost stories, Kuntilanak is often depicted as a woman who may be addressed as nenek if she appears as an old hag.
- The word nenek is used in the common Indonesian phrase nenek moyang to refer to 'ancestors' in general.
Examples in context
- Mari kita makan Nenek.Let's eat Grandma.This sentence is useful for seeing how the word nenek is positioned in a sentence.Tatoeba #11933455 by Pacific, translation #10115166 by JumJum
- Kakek dan nenek saya datang berkunjung hari ini.My grandfather and grandmother came to visit today.
- Selamat ulang tahun, oma! Terima kasih atas semua cinta dan perhatianmu.Happy birthday, grandma! Thank you for all your love and care.
- Saya ingin mengatakan terima kasih kepada embah atas pelajaran hidup yang berharga.I want to express my gratitude to my grandma for the valuable life lessons.
- Nenek sedang memasak di dapur.Grandma is cooking in the kitchen.
- Aku ingin membelikan hadiah untuk nenek.I want to buy a gift for grandma.
Example conversation
Two siblings are talking in the living room.
- SariDimas, apakah nenek sudah bangun?Dimas, has grandma woken up yet?
- DimasBelum, Sari. Dia masih tidur.Not yet, Sari. She is still sleeping.
- SariBaiklah, kita jangan berisik ya.Alright, let's not be noisy, okay.
- DimasIya, supaya nenek tidak kaget.Yes, so grandma doesn't get startled.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry nenek, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
