adik laki-laki
/ˈadik ˌlaki ˈlaki/word by word
The English phrase "little brother" is translated into Indonesian as adik laki-laki.
The phrase refers to a male sibling who is younger than the speaker. In casual conversation, the laki-laki part is often dropped and speakers simply use adik if the gender of the sibling is already understood from the context.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of adik, which means younger sibling and laki-laki, which means male or man.
Which one should you use?
While adik laki-laki is used for a little brother, the phrase adik perempuan is used to refer to a little sister.
How does it change in a sentence?
To say "my little brother", you can attach the suffix -ku to the end of the phrase to get adik laki-lakiku.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈadik ˌlaki ˈlaki/
Did you know?
- While adik refers to a younger sibling, in many Indonesian social circles, you might call a stranger 'adik' as a polite way to acknowledge they are younger than you.
- The term laki-laki is a full reduplication of the word laki, a common pattern in Indonesian where repeating a word changes its meaning or reinforces it.
- In Indonesian culture, calling a close friend or a younger acquaintance adik establishes a pseudo-familial bond of protection and guidance.
Examples in context
- Sepeda ini milik adik laki-lakiku.This bike belongs to my little brother.This sentence is useful for showing possession of an object with the form adik laki-laki.Tatoeba #10041405 by HAGNi, translation #970144 by slivercat
- Ken dan adik laki-lakinya sangat mirip.Ken and his little brother are very alike.This sentence is useful for describing a resemblance using the form adik laki-laki.Tatoeba #1804228 by menyo, translation #2167919 by morgyn
- Bulan depan, adik laki-laki saya akan berusia 20 tahun.Next month, my little brother will turn 20.This sentence is useful for discussing age with the form adik laki-laki.Tatoeba #12016308 by Pacific, translation #12014720 by Winter
- Saya punya adik laki-lakiI have a little brother
- Adik lelaki saya sudah dewasaMy little brother is already an adult
- Adikku suka bermain bolaMy little brother likes playing soccer
- Adek gue lagi main game di kamarMy little brother is playing video games in the room
- Adik sudah pulang?Has little brother come home?
- Adik laki-laki saya berusia 10 tahunMy little brother is 10 years old
- Adikku suka main gitarMy little brother likes playing the guitar
Example conversation
Sari and Dimas are talking about their families at a cafe.
- SariApakah kamu punya adik laki-laki?Do you have a little brother?
- DimasYa, saya punya satu adik laki-laki.Yes, I have one little brother.
- SariApakah adik laki-lakimu tinggal di sini?Does your little brother live here?
- DimasTidak, dia sedang kuliah di luar kota.No, he is studying in another city.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry adik laki-laki, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (adik, laki-laki) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries adik, adik laki-laki, laki-laki, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
