What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of saya (I), rindu (miss/longing) and awak (you).
Which one should you use?
While rindu expresses a feeling of longing or missing someone, it is distinct from kangen which is more commonly used in Indonesian Malay to express the same sentiment.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
For a more formal tone, you can use Saya rindu padamu, Saya merindui kehadiranmu (I miss your presence) or Saya sangat merindui kamu (I miss you very much). For a more casual, intimate or blunt way to say it, use aku rindu kau, which utilizes aku for "I" and kau for "you". In very informal settings, you might say Aku rindu kat kau or Aku sangat rindu padamu to express a strong sense of longing.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Malaysia, people might use Saya rindu pada awak instead of padamu. Additionally, in colloquial Malaysian slang, you might hear Aku rindu kat ko, where ko is used instead of kau to mean "you".
How does it change in a sentence?
The word rindu functions as a verb in this context and does not require a prefix to express the feeling of missing someone.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈsajə rindu ˈawak/
Did you know?
- The word for 'you' in saya rindu awak originally meant 'waist' in Proto-Austronesian. It is a remarkable linguistic evolution from a body part to a second-person pronoun.
- The term rindu is often used in poetry and songs to describe a spiritual or metaphysical longing, not just missing a person.
Examples in context
- Saya rindu awak sangat.I miss you very much.
- Saya rindu awak hari ini.I miss you today.
Example conversation
A couple is talking on a video call.
- NurHai Ahmad, saya rindu awak.Hi Ahmad, I miss you.
- AhmadSaya pun rindu awak, Nur.I miss you too, Nur.
- NurBila awak mahu balik?When do you want to come back?
- AhmadMinggu depan saya balik.I am coming back next week.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “I miss you” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (saya, rindu, awak) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries awak, saya, CC BY-SA 4.0.
