engkau

Indonesian

Etymology

From Malay engkau, from Proto-Malayic *kau(ʔ), from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *(i-)kahu, from Proto-Austronesian *(i-)kaSu.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /əŋkau̯/

Pronoun

engkau

1. (Borneo, Medan, informal) Second-person singular pronoun: you, your, yours

Synonyms

Indonesian informal second-person pronouns:

• kamu (intimate)
• antum (informal, Muslim community)
• lu, lo (slang, Jakarta)
• coen, ko, kowe (slang, Java)
• koen (slang, East Java)
• kau (informal, Sumatra, West Kalimantan)
• engkau, kau, dikau (poetic)

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Malay

Alternative forms

• kau, kau-, -kau, dikau

Etymology

From Proto-Malayic *kau(ʔ), from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *i-kahu, from Proto-Austronesian *i-kaSu.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /əŋkau̯/
• Rhymes: -əŋkau̯, -kau̯, -au̯

Pronoun

engkau (Jawi spelling اڠکاو‎)

1. you, your

Usage notes

Largely used in poetry and songs, and informally between contemporary speakers, especially of the same gender, or with a tone of disapproval. Also used to address God (capitalized i.e. Engkau).

See also

Malay personal pronouns

		singular	plural
1st person	standard	saya / ساي‎ aku/ku- / اکو‎ / كو-‎ (informal/towards God) -ku / -كو‎ (informal possessive) hamba / همبا‎ (dated)	kami / کامي‎ (exclusive) kita / کيت‎ (inclusive)
	Palace Malay	beta / بيتا‎
2nd person	standard	kamu / کامو‎ anda / اندا‎ (formal)
		engkau/kau- / اڠکاو‎/ كاو-‎ (informal/towards God) awak / اوق‎ (friendly/older towards younger) -mu / -مو‎ (possessive)	kalian / کاليان‎
	Palace Malay	tuanku / توانكو‎
3rd person	standard	dia / دي‎ ia / اي‎ beliau / بلياو‎ (honorific) -nya / -ڽ‎ (possessive)	mereka / مريک‎
	Palace Malay	baginda / بݢيندا‎