Learn Hardcore Indonesian: Kakak laki-laki saya duduk di depan, sedangkan kakak perempuan saya menunggu di belakang. - My older brother sits in the front, whereas my older sister waits in the back.

In Indonesian, kakak means “older sibling” without specifying gender. To specify, you add gender words: kakak laki-laki (older brother) and kakak perempuan (older sister). The sentence uses both to make the genders explicit.

Why add laki-laki and perempuan after kakak?

Because kakak is gender‑neutral. laki-laki (male) and perempuan (female) clarify the gender. So kakak laki-laki saya = “my older brother,” and kakak perempuan saya = “my older sister.”

Is the hyphen in laki-laki required? What about lelaki or pria?

Yes, standard spelling uses a hyphen: laki-laki. It’s a reduplication form meaning “male (person).” Alternatives:

lelaki = “man” (one word); you may see kakak lelaki (more common in Malay), but kakak laki-laki is safest in Indonesian.
pria = “man” (more formal), not used in the family term; you wouldn’t say kakak pria. For female, perempuan is standard; wanita = “woman” (more formal), but kakak wanita sounds odd.

Why is it kakak laki-laki saya and not kakak saya laki-laki? Are both correct?

Both are acceptable. kakak laki-laki saya is the most common, compact way to say “my older brother.” kakak saya laki-laki is also grammatical and can sound a bit more like “my sibling is male.” You can also say kakak saya yang laki-laki to be very explicit.

Can I use the possessive suffix instead of saya? Like “kakakku” or “kakak laki-lakiku”?

Yes:

kakakku = my older sibling (gender not specified)
kakak laki-lakiku = my older brother
kakak perempuanku = my older sister Using -ku is common and natural. saya is neutral/formal; -ku feels a bit more personal/informal but is widely used in writing too.

What exactly does sedangkan do here?

sedangkan contrasts two simultaneous or parallel situations, roughly “whereas/while (by contrast).” It signals that the two clauses differ in subject or action. It’s not the progressive marker.

How is sedangkan different from sementara and sedang?

sedangkan = “whereas/while (in contrast).” Links two clauses for contrast.
sementara = “while (during the time).” Focus on simultaneity, not necessarily contrast. Example: Saya membaca, sementara dia menulis.
sedang = progressive marker “be -ing.” Example: Kakak saya sedang duduk. It does not link clauses.

Do I need the comma before sedangkan?

Recommended, yes. When sedangkan links two independent clauses, Indonesian typically uses a comma before it: …, sedangkan ….

Could I just use dan (“and”) instead of sedangkan?

You could, but you’d lose the contrast. dan merely joins: Kakak laki-laki saya duduk di depan dan kakak perempuan saya menunggu di belakang states two facts. sedangkan highlights the difference between them.

Why is it di depan and di belakang, not ke depan or ke belakang?

di marks location (“at/in/on”). di depan = “in front,” di belakang = “at the back.” ke marks movement/direction: ke depan = “to the front/forward,” ke belakang = “to the back/backward.”

Is di a separate word here? How is it different from the prefix di-?

Here di is a preposition and must be written separately: di depan, di belakang. The passive prefix di- attaches to verbs with no space, e.g., dipukul (“was hit”). Spacing changes meaning.

Do depan and belakang need to name what they’re in front of/behind?

Not necessarily. di depan and di belakang can stand alone if context is clear (e.g., front/back of a room or vehicle). To specify, add a noun: di depan rumah, di belakang sekolah, or di bagian depan/belakang for “in the front/back section.”

Is menunggu okay without an object? In English we often say “wait for.”

Yes. menunggu can appear without an explicit object when it’s obvious or unimportant: menunggu di belakang (“wait at the back”). You can add an object: menunggu bus (“wait for the bus”). Synonyms: menanti (a bit literary), menantikan (often “to look forward to”).

What’s the nuance of duduk vs forms like menduduki or mendudukkan?

duduk = to sit (intransitive): duduk di depan.
menduduki = to occupy/hold (a seat/position/territory).
mendudukkan = to seat (cause someone to sit) or to appoint. Use plain duduk for someone sitting.

Could I avoid repeating kakak and just say … sedangkan dia menunggu di belakang?

Yes: …, sedangkan dia menunggu di belakang. That’s natural, but dia (“he/she”) can be ambiguous without prior context. The original repeats kakak perempuan to keep the contrast explicit.

Can a sentence start with Sedangkan?

It can, but it should contrast with a previous sentence: Sedangkan kakak perempuan saya menunggu di belakang. On its own, starting with Sedangkan feels incomplete because it expects something to contrast with.

Is kakak also used as a title of address?

Yes. People often address an older person as Kak (short for kakak), especially in informal settings: Kak, boleh saya tanya? Regionally, you’ll also hear Mas/Mbak (Javanese), Bang/Abang (Betawi/Minang), etc.