tuan
/ˈtuan/
In Indonesian, "sir" can be translated as tuan. Wiktionary also lists ustaz.
Meaning: address to any male, especially if his name or proper address is unknown (noun)
Ways to say it
| Indonesian | IPA |
|---|---|
| tuan | /ˈtuan/ (Standard Indonesian) |
| ustaz | /ˈustaz/ (Standard Indonesian) |
The term is used to address any male, particularly when his name or proper address is unknown.
Which one should you use?
While tuan is the literal translation for "sir" or "master", it is used primarily in formal writing, legal contexts or highly formal settings and can sound archaic or overly stiff in casual spoken conversation. In contrast, ustaz is used to address a male "sir" specifically when that person is a religious teacher or an Islamic scholar.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈtuan/
Did you know?
- While tuan is the formal word for 'sir', most Indonesians will actually use pak, a shortened version of bapak, which literally means 'father', to address men in daily life.
- If you call a stranger tuan in a modern Indonesian coffee shop, you might be mistaken for an actor performing a script from a 19th-century period drama.
- The formal term tuan shares a common linguistic root with the word tuhan, which means 'God'.
Examples in context
- Permisi, Pak.Excuse me, sir.
- Mas, ada yang bisa saya bantu?Sir, is there anything I can help you with?
Example conversation
Maya is working as a receptionist and greets Budi.
- MayaSelamat siang, Tuan. Ada yang bisa saya bantu?Good afternoon, sir. How can I help you?
- BudiSaya ingin check-in untuk satu malam.I would like to check in for one night.
- MayaBaik, Tuan. Boleh saya lihat paspor Anda?Alright, sir. May I see your passport?
- BudiTentu, ini paspor saya.Sure, here is my passport.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “sir” translations and entries tuan, ustaz, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries tuan, ustaz, CC BY-SA 4.0.
