sukarno: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowFormal, Historical, Academic, Political
Quick answer
What does “sukarno” mean?
Proper noun referring to the first president of Indonesia (1901–1970).
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Proper noun referring to the first president of Indonesia (1901–1970).
By extension, can refer to the era of his presidency (the Sukarno era), his political ideology, or as a historical figure representing Indonesian independence and nationalism.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage between UK and US English. Both use it primarily in historical/political contexts.
Connotations
Connotations are historical and political, associated with decolonization, the Non-Aligned Movement, and the early formation of modern Indonesia.
Frequency
Equally low frequency in both varieties, appearing almost exclusively in specific historical, political, or Southeast Asian studies contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “sukarno” in a Sentence
Used attributively before a noun (Sukarno era)Used in possessive form (Sukarno's vision)Used as subject/object of historical narrative (Sukarno declared independence).Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “sukarno” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The Sukarno period was marked by assertive foreign policy.
- This building is a classic example of Sukarno-era architecture.
American English
- Sukarno-era policies focused heavily on national unity.
- The concept of Guided Democracy was a Sukarno initiative.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used in history, political science, and Southeast Asian studies to discuss mid-20th century Indonesia, decolonization, and nationalist movements.
Everyday
Extremely rare. Would only appear in discussions of history or politics.
Technical
Used as a specific historical referent in political/historical texts.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “sukarno”
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “sukarno”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “sukarno”
- Misspelling as 'Sukarna', 'Sukarno's' (incorrect possessive for adjectival use, e.g., 'the Sukarno's era' is wrong).
- Using it as a common adjective (e.g., 'That's very Sukarno' is incorrect).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is exclusively a proper noun referring to the historical figure. It has no general lexical meaning in English.
The most common English pronunciation is /suːˈkɑːr.noʊ/ (soo-KAR-noh), with the primary stress on the second syllable.
Only in an attributive, historical sense (e.g., 'the Sukarno era'). It does not function as a descriptive adjective like 'big' or 'blue'.
You will encounter it almost exclusively in texts or discussions about 20th-century Indonesian history, Southeast Asian politics, or post-colonial studies.
Proper noun referring to the first president of Indonesia (1901–1970).
Sukarno is usually formal, historical, academic, political in register.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think 'Soo-KAR-no' led Indonesia to say 'So long!' to colonial rule.
Conceptual Metaphor
A NAME AS AN ERA: 'Sukarno' can metonymically stand for the period of his rule and its characteristics.
Practice
Quiz
In which field is the term 'Sukarno' primarily used?