saya
/ˈsaja/
In Indonesian, 'I am' is expressed using saya.
The phrase is used to identify yourself or to state a quality or characteristic about yourself.
Which one should you use?
While saya is the standard form, the word aku is used when you want to be informal or intimate, such as when speaking with friends or in literary contexts.
How does it change in a sentence?
In Indonesian, the verb 'to be' (am, is, are) is often omitted when connecting a subject to an adjective or a noun.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈsaja/
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often over-use the word adalah to translate 'am', but it is usually unnecessary in natural Indonesian speech.
Did you know?
- While saya is standard, in very formal or royal contexts in some regions, speakers may use hamba, which literally means 'slave'.
- If you are speaking to someone much older or of higher status, you might avoid using saya altogether and instead use a kinship term like adik (younger sibling) to refer to yourself.
- The word saya actually shares its roots with the Sanskrit word sahāya, which means 'companion' or 'friend'.
Examples in context
- Saya duduk di sini.I am sitting here.This sentence shows how to use saya to describe a current action.Tatoeba #5681654 by ciscas, translation #6082576 by fredzed
- Umur saya 19 tahun.I am 19 years old.This sentence shows how to use saya to state your age.Tatoeba #11252772 by Pacific, translation #73252 by CK
- Saya masih di sini.I am still here.This sentence shows how to use saya to indicate your current location.Tatoeba #11446128 by Pacific, translation #11446062 by Agestur
- 129 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two people are introducing themselves at a small gathering.
- AdiHalo, saya Adi.Hello, I am Adi.
- SariSenang bertemu Anda, saya Sari.Nice to meet you, I am Sari.
- AdiSaya sangat senang berkenalan dengan Anda.I am very happy to meet you.
- SariSaya juga.I am too.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry saya, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries saya, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
