Iku
Definition & Context
Pronoun
A word that can function by itself as a noun phrase and that refers either to the participants in the discourse or to someone or something mentioned elsewhere in the discourse.
A Javanese Ngoko demonstrative word meaning "that", used to refer to an object, person, or situation that is distant from the speaker or has been previously mentioned in conversation.
Synonyms & Variants
eta
Sundanese dialect form for 'that'.
itu
In bilingual Javanese-Indonesian conversation, `iku` and "itu" are frequently interchanged naturally through code-switching phenomena.
nan
An archaic or literary form referring to a distant demonstrative.
tuh
Informal abbreviation to show direction
kuwi
The variant `kuwi` is more common in the Kedu, Banyumas, and surrounding regions, while `iku` is dominant in East Javanese and Surakarta dialects.
kae
Differs from `iku` in degree of distance, `kae` marks a greater or non-visible spatial remoteness.
Usage Notes or Etymology
The word iku is a distal demonstrative in the ngoko_lugu register of Javanese, equivalent to “itu” (that) in Standard Indonesian. It refers to something physically or contextually distant from the speaker, as opposed to iki, which refers to something nearby. Javanese employs a three-tier demonstrative system based on spatial distance: iki (proximal, near the speaker), iku (medial or distal, away from the speaker), and kae (remote, out of sight or very far). This tripartite deictic system is a well-preserved feature inherited from the broader Austronesian language family. In the krama register, the formal equivalent of iku is menika or punika, used when addressing elders or socially superior individuals. Correct usage of iku versus its polite counterparts reflects a speaker's mastery of the Javanese “unggah-ungguh” (speech etiquette) system.
Real-world Usage
Sopo to sing nggawa tas iku? (Siapa yang membawa tas itu?)
English Translation
Representative of real-world usage and contextual accuracy.
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