kalian
Rare / Non-ExistentInformal
Definition
Meaning
The second person plural pronoun, meaning 'you all' or 'all of you.'
A term used to refer to multiple people being directly addressed. It can also imply a collective or group identity. It is not a pronoun for 'you' in the singular or formal sense.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The word 'kalian' does not exist in standard English. It is a loanword from Indonesian, where it is the standard second-person plural pronoun. In English contexts, it is only used when directly referencing the Indonesian word or in communities familiar with the Indonesian language. The standard English equivalents are 'you (all)', 'you guys', 'y'all', or 'youse' (regional).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The word 'kalian' itself has no established usage in either British or American English. However, the concept it represents (2nd person plural) is filled by different regional terms: BrE often uses 'you lot', 'you all', or simply context-dependent 'you'. AmE uses 'you guys', 'y'all' (Southern US), 'you all', or 'youse' (some urban dialects).
Connotations
N/A for 'kalian' itself. For its English equivalents: 'you guys' is broadly neutral but informal in AmE; 'y'all' is strongly associated with Southern AmE; 'you lot' can be slightly informal or dismissive in BrE.
Frequency
'Kalian' has negligible frequency in English corpora. The frequency of its English substitutes varies greatly by region.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject] + verb + kalianKalian + [verb phrase]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “N/A”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Not used in English business contexts.
Academic
Only used in linguistic or cultural studies discussing Indonesian language.
Everyday
Virtually never used in everyday English conversation outside specific bilingual communities.
Technical
Only relevant in linguistics as a loanword or example from Austronesian languages.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- Do kalian want to come to the pub?
American English
- What are kalian doing later?
adverb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adjective
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
Examples
By CEFR Level
- 'Kalian' is an Indonesian word.
- In Indonesian, 'kalian' means 'you' when speaking to more than one person.
- Linguists note that English lacks a standard second-person plural pronoun, borrowing terms like 'y'all' or, in niche cases, loanwords like 'kalian' from other languages.
- The adoption of pronouns such as 'kalian' into English-speaking communities is typically limited to heritage speakers and represents a fascinating case of pragmatic lexical borrowing to fill a perceived gap in the pronominal system.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think 'California' without the 'forni' – the 'kali' part sounds like 'colly' (archaic for 'all'), and 'an' is a common ending. 'Kali-ALL-an' is for ALL of you.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE ADDRESSEE IS A COLLECTIVE (Mapping from the specific Indonesian pronoun to the general concept of plural address).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with Russian 'калия' (kaliya - potassium).
- It is not a formal 'you' (like 'Вы'). It is exclusively plural.
- It does not convey the singular/plural ambiguity of English 'you'; it is explicitly plural.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'kalian' in an English sentence expecting it to be understood.
- Pronouncing it /ˈkeɪliən/ (like 'alien' with a K).
- Assuming it has a formal register in English.
Practice
Quiz
In which language is 'kalian' a standard, commonly used word?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, 'kalian' is not a standard English word. It is an Indonesian pronoun that is occasionally referenced or used in English by speakers familiar with Indonesian.
In Indonesian, 'kamu' is the informal singular 'you', while 'kalian' is the plural 'you' (for addressing a group).
It is typically approximated as /kɑːliˈɑːn/ in American English and /kælɪˈæn/ in British English, following the pronunciation of the source language.
Generally, no. It is not part of the English lexicon. To address a group, use standard English alternatives like 'you all', 'everyone', or regional terms like 'y'all' or 'you guys'.
Explore