Ways to say it
| Indonesian | IPA |
|---|---|
| ibu | /ˈibu/ (Standard Indonesian) |
| bunda | /ˈbunda/ (Standard Indonesian) |
The term ibu refers to a female who has given birth to or is parenting a child. Beyond the biological relationship, ibu is also used as a polite honorific for any woman of a certain age or social standing, similar to the English 'Madam' or 'Ma'am'.
Which one should you use?
While ibu is the standard term for a biological or social mother, bunda carries a warmer, more sentimental connotation.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
ibu is the standard, most common and formal way to say mother in Indonesian. In contrast, bunda is an affectionate or poetic term often used in literature or by children to sound sweet. Additionally, the term Ma is a commonly used informal term for mother.
Is it said differently in some regions?
Emak is a regional variation of mother often used in Java and other parts of Indonesia.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈibu/
Did you know?
- In anatomy, ibu jari refers to the thumb, literally translating to 'mother finger'.
- The term ibu can refer to the 'main' or 'primary' version of something, such as ibu kota for 'capital city'.
- In a classroom setting, a female teacher is often addressed as Ibu by her students. This treats the teacher as a maternal figure of authority and respect within the academic community.
Examples in context
- Jadi ibu, ada apa?Now mother, what’s the matter?This sentence is useful for asking a mother what is the matter using ibu.Tatoeba #3893167 by Bilmanda, translation #1172184 by Scott
- Apakah aku ibu kalian?Am I your mother?This sentence is useful for asking if one is a mother using ibu.Tatoeba #13798797 by HAGNi, translation #13788987 by mervert1
- Sayangi ayah dan ibumu.Love your father and your mother.This sentence is useful for expressing love for a mother using ibu.Tatoeba #11872031 by Pacific, translation #11833853 by ddnktr
- Selamat ulang tahun, ibu!Happy birthday, mother!
- Terima kasih atas bantuanmu, ibu.Thank you for your help, mother.
- Ibu, bolehkah saya meminjam bukumu?Mother, may I borrow your book?
- Mami, apa kabar?Hey, mom, how are you?
- Ma, apa yang sedang kamu lakukan?Ma, what are you doing?
- Emak, tolong masakkan makan malam ya.Mom, please cook dinner.
- 108 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Sari and Budi are talking about family at home.
- SariIbu sedang memasak di dapur.Mother is cooking in the kitchen.
- BudiApakah ibu sudah makan?Has mother eaten yet?
- SariBeliau belum makan, Budi.She hasn't eaten yet, Budi.
- BudiAku akan menemani ibu makan.I will accompany mother to eat.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “mother” translations and entries ibu, bunda, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
