engkau

Indonesian

Etymology

From Malay engkau, from Proto-Malayic *kau(ʔ), from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *(i-)kahu, from Proto-Austronesian *(i-)kaSu. The eng- component is epenthetical to avoid a monosyllabic pronunciation.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /əŋkau̯/

• Audio:

  (file)

Pronoun

engkau

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

Synonyms

Indonesian informal second-person pronouns:

• anta (informal, mainly used by Muslim community)
• antum (informal, mainly used by Muslim community)
• coen (slang, East Java)
• ente (informal, mainly used by Betawi ethnic group)
• kamu (intimate)
• ko, kowe (informal, Java)
• kon, koen (colloquial, East Java)
• lu, lo, loe, elu (informal, mainly used by Betawi ethnic group)
• mika, mike (informal, Eastern Sumatra)

Malay

Alternative forms

• kau, kau-, -kau, dikau

Etymology

From Proto-Malayic *kau(ʔ), from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *i-kahu, from Proto-Austronesian *i-kaSu. The eng- component is epenthetical to avoid a monosyllabic pronunciation.

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 orang / كيت اورڠ (informal exclusive) kita / کيت (inclusive)
	royal	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)	awak semua / اوق سموا kamu semua / كامو سموا kalian / کالين (informal) kau orang / كاو اورڠ (informal)
	royal	tuanku / توانكو
3rd person	standard	dia / دي ia / اي beliau / بلياو (honorific) -nya / -ڽ (possessive)	mereka / مريک dia orang / دي اورڠ (informal)
	royal	baginda / بݢيندا