adik

Adik is a native term in Malay and Indonesian that means a younger sibling or a younger person. It is gender-neutral and commonly used in everyday speech across Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei, and parts of Singapore. The word functions both as a noun and as a term of address.

In family usage, adik refers to someone who is younger than the speaker, regardless of gender. It can describe a specific person, as in “adik saya” (my younger sibling), or be used generically to refer to younger relatives. Adults often address younger people as “adik” in informal settings, sometimes followed by a name, such as “Adik Nita.”

Beyond family, adik can describe a younger person in wider social contexts, including friends, classmates, or junior colleagues, still carrying a sense of warmth or familiarity. The term is typically paired with respectful tone in spoken language; in more formal writing, neutral phrases like “anak yang lebih muda” or “saudara yang lebih muda” might be used.

Related forms include “adik-adik” to refer collectively to younger siblings or younger people in general, and the compound “adik-beradik” meaning siblings. The word originated in Malay- and Indonesian-language usage and is part of everyday vocabulary rather than a specialized term.

Adik can also appear as a given name or nickname in Indonesia and Malaysia, reflecting its familiar, endearing connotation. Overall, adik conveys kinship and proximity, emphasizing youth rather than gender.