A-Z Indonesian Language Useful Words (Examples and Meaning)

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When we learn about language, we will talk about vocabulary for sure because it is as important as Indonesian Grammar Rules or Indonesian Part of Speech. Therefore, you must collect as much lexical resources as you can to master Bahasa Indonesia. At this opportunity, we will discuss about Indonesian Language Useful Words. Before we start, let’s take a look at these following related articles.

Here are some very common word that you would find really useful to deliver your purpose!

Indonesian Preposition, Auxiliary and Conjunction

dengan = with
untuk = for
akan = will
belum = have/has not
juga = also
sangat = very
(adjective) sekali = very
lebih = more
lebih dari = more than
kurang = less
kurang dari = less than
dari = from
ke = to
di = in
setelah = after
sebelum = before
dapat = can/could
bisa = can/could (*this also means viper poison)
ingin/mau = want/desire
hendak = will (formal)
dan = and, as well as
atau = or
sedangkan = while
tetapi = but
meskipun/walaupun = although/despite/in spite
meskipun demikian/walaupun demikian = nonetheless
akan tetapi = however
namun = however/but
oleh sebab itu/oleh karena itu = Because of that, therefore
sehingga = so
dengan demikian = therefore
dengan kata lain = on the other words
di sisi lain = on the other hand
kemudian = then
ketika = when
bahwa = that
karena/sebab = because

Further readings: Indonesian Auxiliary Verbs and Indonesian Conjunctions

Indonesian Pronouns (Formal and Informal)

Indonesian Language Useful Words:

saya (formal)/ aku (informal) = I/me/mine/my
kamu (formal)/ Anda (informal) = you/your/yours
kami =we/us/our/ours (excluding you)
kita =we/us/our/ours (including you)
mereka = they/them/their/theirs
kalian = (plural version of ‘kamu’)
Anda semua = (plural version of ‘Anda’)
dia = he/she, his/her, his/hers, him/her
beliau = formal form of ‘dia’

Indonesian Greeting & Sacred Words

Greeting is a very sacred part of Bahasa Indonesia because it show respect to others. (Check: Sacred Communication Etiquette in Indonesia and Indonesian Greeting Etiquette and Manners)

tolong = help (n), please
terima kasih = thank you
maaf = sorry
selamat = congratulation
selamat pagi = good morning
selamat siang = good afternoon
selamat sore = good evening
selamat malam = good evening/good night
selamat tidur = good night
mimpi yang indah = have a nice sleep
selamat menikmati = enjoy
selamat datang = welcome
sampai jumpa = see you
salam = greet!/ hi!
hai = hi
halo = hello
salam damai = peace
sama-sama/terima kasih kembali = you’re welcome

Check also: How to Say Hello in Indonesian

Indonesian Daily life Words

Indonesian Language Useful Words:

makan = eat
minum = drink
bekerja = work
bersekolah = school (v)
berjalan = walk
main = play
tidur = sleep
mandi = take a bath
sikat gigi/gosok gigi = brush … teeth
mencuci = wash
tertawa = laugh
menangis = cry
senang = happy
sedih = sad
marah = angry
jual = sell
beli = buy
mahal = expensive
murah = cheap
datang = come
pulang = go home/back
bicara = talk
diam = silent
ambil = take
taruh = put
waktu = time
tahun = year
bulan = month
hari = day
minggu = week
jam = hour
menit = minute
detik = second
sekarang = now
hari ini = today
nanti = later
besok = tomorrow
lusa = the day after tomorrow
kemarin = yesterday
Senin = Monday
Selasa = Tuesday
Rabu = Wednesday
Kamis = Thursday
Jumat = Friday
Sabtu = Saturday
Minggu = Sunday
libur = holiday
apa = what
siapa = who
kenapa/mengapa = why
bagaimana = how
di mana = where
kapan = when
merah = red
biru = blue
hitam = black
putih = white
hijau = green
kuning = yellow
jingga/oranye = orange
merah muda = pink
ungu = purple
abu-abu = grey
macet = traffic
terlambat = late

Indonesian Slang Words

Modus = having purpose, not sincere
Baper = too sensitive/too much emotion
Gabut = have no activity/not busy at all/a condition when you do nothing or less in a project/job
Kepo = knowing every particular object (refer to people that want to know too much than he/she should know
Alay = cheesy, people immature behavior
Selo/woles = relax, less tension
Santai/sans = relax, ask someone to be not too intense
Kuy (bacward of ‘yuk’) = a word used to ask someone to come
Sikat/Takis = refer to ‘go/do something without hesitant’
Gas = not hesitant like car gas
PHP (pemberi harapan palsu) = giving fake hope/disappointment
Jomblo/Jomlo = single (but the sense is more negative
Kacang = ignored (like a “krik-krik” sound when you chew peanut)
receh = not funny at all

Check also: Indonesian Slang in Internet Chatting

Those are Indonesian Language Useful Words that will help you a lot in communication. Of course, there are still may to learn and be mastered. I hope you still have tons of curiosity left inside you! Therefore, here are several useful articles to help you collect as many Bahasa Indonesia vocabulary as you can. Do not hesitant to take a look and click more articles. Good luck and keep practice!