ibuku

Ibuku is a term used in Indonesian and Malay to refer to one’s mother. It is formed from the noun ibu, meaning mother, combined with the possessive suffix -ku, which conveys the first-person singular “my.” In standard Indonesian, the possessive is typically written with a hyphen as ibu-ku, while ibuku may appear in casual writing or as a stylized form. In Malay, similar constructions exist, emphasizing familial relation and affection.

As a grammatical construction, ibu serves as the base noun and ku functions as a possessive pronoun attached to the noun. The expression is commonly used in everyday speech to denote the speaker’s mother, and it can also appear in literary, film, and media contexts where themes of motherhood, family, or parental care are central. When used as a proper noun or title, Ibuku may appear in creative works, organizations, or campaigns that seek to evoke the idea of a mother or maternal guidance.

Culturally, the concept of one’s mother holds significant value across Indonesian and Malay-speaking communities, and phrases like Ibuku can carry affectionate, respectful, or nostalgic connotations. The term is widely understood in social discourse and can be encountered in poetry, music, education, and community programs that celebrate family and motherhood.

There are no universally recognized international entities with this exact title, but Ibuku remains a recognizable linguistic and cultural expression within Southeast Asian languages.