kalian

Kalian is an Indonesian pronoun that means you all or you (plural). It functions as the second-person pronoun used to address a group and is common in informal spoken and written Indonesian. Like other Indonesian pronouns, it has no gender and does not inflect for case.

Usage and register

Kalian is typically used in casual or familiar contexts, such as conversations among friends, family, classmates, or peers. In formal situations or in formal writing, speakers and writers often prefer Anda sekalian, Anda semua, or Saudara-saudara to address a group. While you may encounter kalian in media and everyday speech, using it in official speeches, customer communications, or formal documents can be considered too casual.

Grammatical notes

Kalian can serve as either the subject or the object of a sentence, consistent with Indonesian pronoun behavior. The pronoun follows the usual subject-verb-object order, and it can appear with emphasis or reduplication for emphasis or politeness, such as Kalian semua or Kalian-kalian. Examples: Kalian akan pergi ke sekolah. Saya melihat kalian di taman. Kalian tidak boleh melakukannya tanpa izin.

Regional and language context

Kalian is characteristic of Indonesian and is widely understood across Indonesia. In Malay-influenced varieties and regional dialects, other forms such as kamu or kamu semua may be used, with masing-masing contexts shaping formality.

See also

Indonesian pronouns, Anda, Anda semua, saudara-saudara.