Keponakan laki-laki saya takut petir.

My nephew is afraid of lightning.

Breakdown of Keponakan laki-laki saya takut petir.

• adalah: to be
• saya: my
• petir: the lightning
• keponakan laki-laki: the nephew
• takut: afraid

Questions & Answers about Keponakan laki-laki saya takut petir.

What does keponakan laki‑laki mean, and could I just say keponakan?

Keponakan is gender‑neutral: nephew or niece. Adding laki‑laki specifies male, so keponakan laki‑laki = male nephew. For a niece, say keponakan perempuan. If gender is obvious or irrelevant, keponakan alone is fine.

Why is the possessor saya after the noun phrase? Why not saya keponakan?

In Indonesian, the possessed noun comes first, then the possessor:

• keponakan saya = my nephew/niece
• Not: saya keponakan You can also use possessive clitics:
• keponakanku (my), keponakanmu (your), keponakannya (his/her/their/the). All are fine; saya is neutral/formal, clitics feel more personal/informal or literary, depending on style.

Can I say keponakanku laki‑laki or keponakan laki‑lakiku?

Be careful:

• Keponakanku laki‑laki is read as a full sentence: “My nephew is male,” not a noun phrase.
• Keponakan laki‑lakiku usually means “my husband’s nephew” (laki‑lakiku = my man/husband), not “my male nephew.” To keep “male” as a modifier with -ku, use:
• keponakan laki‑laki saya, or
• keponakanku yang laki‑laki.

Is laki‑laki always hyphenated? Are there synonyms?

• Standard spelling: laki‑laki (fixed reduplication = male/man).
• Synonyms:
  • lelaki (one word; a bit more formal/literary)
  • pria (formal “male/man”)
  • cowok (colloquial “guy”) For kin terms, laki‑laki or lelaki fits best: keponakan laki‑laki/lelaki.

Does the reduplication in laki‑laki mean plural?

No. While reduplication can mark plural (buku‑buku = books), laki‑laki is a fixed word meaning “male/man,” not plural. Plurality is shown by context or with para, semua, or by reduplicating ordinary count nouns.

Where is the verb “to be”? Why not adalah?

Indonesian doesn’t use a copula with adjectives. Takut is a stative verb/adjective (“afraid”), so … takut … is complete. Adalah mainly links noun to noun (e.g., Budi adalah guru), not before adjectives like takut.

Do I need a preposition after takut (like “of”)?

Often omitted in everyday speech: takut petir (common). With a preposition (more explicit/formal):

• takut pada/terhadap petir (neutral/formal)
• takut akan petir (formal/literary) Colloquial:
• takut sama/dengan petir Choose by register.

Is petir thunder or lightning? What are related words?

• petir = lightning (the discharge)
• kilat = lightning/flash (the bright flash)
• guntur/guruh = thunder (the sound)
• halilintar = thunderbolt/lightning (dramatic/poetic) Casually, people may use petir loosely, but the above is the standard distinction.

How do I say “is not afraid”? Do I use tidak or bukan?

Use tidak for adjectives/verbs:

• Keponakan laki‑laki saya tidak takut petir. Use bukan to negate a noun or contrast identity/reason:
• Dia bukan penakut (He’s not a coward).
• Dia bukan takut, cuma kaget (It’s not that he’s afraid, just startled).

How do I make it plural: “My nephews are afraid of lightning”?

• Context only: Keponakan saya takut petir. (could be singular or plural)
• Reduplication: Keponakan‑keponakan saya takut petir.
• Collective: Para keponakan saya takut petir.
• Or add a pronoun: Keponakan saya takut petir; mereka selalu berteriak.

Can I omit laki‑laki?

Yes. Keponakan saya takut petir states the fact without specifying gender.

Where do other modifiers go, like “little,” “eldest,” or a relative clause?

Modifiers follow the noun, and yang helps clarity:

• keponakan laki‑laki saya yang paling kecil (my youngest nephew)
• keponakan saya yang laki‑laki (my nephew, the male one)
• keponakan laki‑laki saya yang takut petir (the male nephew of mine who is afraid of lightning)

What does adding itu do: Keponakan laki‑laki saya itu takut petir?

Itu marks a specific/known/contrastive referent—roughly “that/that particular.” It emphasizes “that nephew of mine (as opposed to others) is afraid of lightning.” Natural in speech for definiteness or contrast.

Are there more colloquial or formal variants of the whole sentence?

• Neutral: Keponakan laki‑laki saya takut petir.
• Colloquial: Ponakan cowok saya takut sama petir.
• Formal: Keponakan lelaki saya takut pada petir.

How can I intensify or soften takut?

• Stronger: sangat takut, takut sekali, colloq takut banget
• Softer: agak takut, lumayan takut
• Habitual: selalu takut, memang takut
• Temporary panic: (sedang) ketakutan Example: Keponakan saya sangat takut petir.

How do I talk about time/tense here?

The verb doesn’t change. Add time words:

• Past: Dulu keponakan saya takut petir.
• Present: Sekarang dia masih takut petir.
• No longer: Dia tidak takut petir lagi.

Pronunciation tips for these words?

• keponakan: e = schwa (like the a in “about”): kə-po-NA-kan
• petir: e = schwa: pə-TIR
• laki‑laki: LA-ki LA-ki (a as in “father”) Stress is typically on the penultimate syllable.

What related words are built from takut?

• menakutkan = scary/frightening: Petir menakutkan.
• menakuti = to frighten (someone): Petir menakuti anak‑anak.
• menakut‑nakuti = to spook repeatedly.
• ketakutan = terrified/in a state of fear.
• penakut = a timid person/coward.