Breakdown of Kakak laki-laki saya memeluk guling itu kalau kedinginan.
itu
that
saya
my
kalau
if
kakak laki-laki
the older brother
kedinginan
to feel cold
guling
the bolster
memeluk
to hug
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Questions & Answers about Kakak laki-laki saya memeluk guling itu kalau kedinginan.
What does the phrase kakak laki-laki mean, and how is it different from just kakak?
Kakak means older sibling without specifying gender. Kakak laki-laki specifies that the older sibling is male, i.e., older brother. For older sister you’d say kakak perempuan.
Why is it kakak laki-laki saya and not kakak saya laki-laki?
In noun phrases, the possessor pronoun comes after the noun: kakak saya (my older sibling). Kakak laki-laki saya means my older brother. Kakak saya laki-laki is a full sentence meaning my older sibling is male, not a noun phrase.
Why is laki-laki hyphenated? Is it a reduplication?
Yes—laki-laki is a reduplication, and it’s the standard word for male/man. You’ll also see lelaki (a fused form, more literary). Synonyms include pria (formal) and cowok (colloquial).
Can I use other words for older brother, like abang or mas?
Yes, but they’re regional/register-specific. Abang is common in Jakarta/Betawi and parts of Sumatra; mas is Javanese. So kakak laki-laki saya (neutral), abang saya (regional), or mas saya (regional).
What exactly is a guling? Is it just a pillow?
Guling is a cylindrical body pillow/bolster, very common in Indonesia. A regular rectangular pillow is bantal. The collocation memeluk guling (to hug a bolster) is very natural.
Why does itu come after guling? Could I say itu guling?
Demonstratives follow the noun: guling itu (that/the bolster), guling ini (this bolster). Itu guling is only used in special structures like Itu guling saya (That is my bolster), not as a noun phrase before a verb.
Does itu here mean that or the?
Itu can mean either, depending on context. It marks a specific, known referent—so it can be read as that bolster or the bolster.
Why memeluk and not peluk?
Memeluk is the standard active verb (meN- + peluk). The meN- prefix assimilates: p drops and meN- becomes mem- (peluk → memeluk; pakai → memakai; pukul → memukul). Peluk appears in imperatives or colloquial speech (Peluk aku!), and in casual speech after auxiliaries (mau peluk), though standard Indonesian keeps the prefix (mau memeluk).
What’s the difference among kalau, ketika, jika, and saat?
- Kalau: if/when (very common, neutral-to-informal).
- Ketika/saat: when (time-based; ketika is neutral/formal, saat slightly formal).
- Jika/apabila: if (more formal/conditional). In your sentence, kalau can mean when or if depending on context.
What does kedinginan mean compared to dingin?
Dingin is the adjective cold. Kedinginan (ke- -an) means to feel cold/to be affected by cold (often uncomfortably). So kalau kedinginan means when he feels cold, not when it is cold.
Who is the one that’s cold in kalau kedinginan? Why is there no pronoun?
It’s understood to be the subject of the main clause (kakak laki-laki saya). Indonesian often omits repeated subjects in subordinate clauses. You can make it explicit: Kalau dia kedinginan, …
How do I say when it’s cold (the weather) instead of when he is cold?
Use dingin with a weather/ambient subject: Kalau cuaca/udara dingin, … or Kalau malamnya dingin, …. You could also say Kalau sedang dingin (when it’s cold), but naming the weather is clearer.
Is there any tense here? How do I show it’s a habit?
Indonesian doesn’t mark tense on the verb. Habit is inferred or added with adverbs like biasanya (usually): Biasanya, kakak laki-laki saya memeluk guling itu kalau kedinginan. For past, add time words (tadi, kemarin); for future, akan.
Can I move the kalau-clause to the front?
Yes: Kalau kedinginan, kakak laki-laki saya memeluk guling itu. Both orders are natural.
How would the passive voice look?
Guling itu dipeluk (oleh) kakak laki-laki saya kalau kedinginan. The agent marker oleh is optional in many contexts.
How do I make it plural (my older brothers / they)?
You can say Kakak-kakak laki-laki saya or more naturally Kakak-kakak saya yang laki-laki. Then use mereka for they: Mereka memeluk guling itu kalau kedinginan.
Are there register differences for the pronoun saya?
Yes. Saya is polite/neutral; aku is informal; gue/gua is very casual Jakarta slang. The sentence adapts accordingly: Kakak laki-laki aku … or Kakak laki-laki gue … depending on context.