Suami / Istri
Husband / Wife
'Suami' (husband) and 'istri' (wife) are formal. Casually, Indonesians often say 'suami saya' or just refer to their spouse as 'Bapak/Ibu'!
Learn "Husband" and "Wife" in Indonesian with "Suami" and "Istri." These important family vocabulary words in Bahasa Indonesia come up frequently as Indonesians love to ask about your family and marital status.
💬Example Sentences
Ini suami saya.
This is my husband.
Istri saya orang Indonesia.
My wife is Indonesian.
Sudah menikah?
Are you married?
🏭Cultural Context
Marriage is highly valued in Indonesian society, and the question "sudah menikah?" (are you married?) is asked as casually and frequently as asking someone's name. It is not considered intrusive — it is a way of showing interest and building rapport. If you are married, talking about your spouse will endear you to Indonesians, who deeply respect family commitment. If you are not married, "belum" (not yet) is the standard response, which implies you will eventually — and locals may playfully try to match you with someone! In Indonesian culture, married couples often refer to each other as "Bapak" and "Ibu" (father and mother), especially after having children, with their identities happily intertwined with their roles as parents.