suamiistri

Suamiistri, often written suami-istri, is an Indonesian term referring to a married couple—the husband (suami) and wife (istri)—as a unit or relationship. The expression is used in everyday language, as well as in legal, sociological, and policy contexts to denote the institution of marriage and the household formed by a husband and wife.

In Indonesia, marriage is a formal contract governed by national law and, for many citizens, religious law. The state records marriages through civil registries and local religious offices, and the couple gains rights and obligations related to property, inheritance, and parental duties. The term suamiistri is also linked to the concept of rumah tangga, meaning the household or family life managed by the couple.

Usage notes: the hyphenated form suami-istri is common in formal writing, while suami istri as two words appears in some contexts. The term is gendered in the sense that it refers to a heterosexual married couple, consistent with most Indonesian legal definitions of marriage; same-sex marriage is not legally recognized in Indonesia at the national level.