Indonesia is the famous country by its many provinces. With more than 17.000 islands, Indonesia also has different languages from its different provinces. The amount of languages of Indonesia’s provinces makes Indonesia needs to decide one language to unite those languages. The language is named Indonesian language or people sometimes say it as Bahasa.
The Indonesian language is divided into formal and informal language. The slang of Indonesia also exist and usually used among the people who have known each other well. Because of the amount of formal and informal language to be used among Indonesian people, what are the most commonly used Indonesian words?
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Here are the examples:
- Formal Language
| Indonesian | Meaning (in English) | Types |
| Aku/Saya | I | Pronoun |
| Kamu/Anda | You | Pronoun |
| Bapak | Father/Dad | Pronoun |
| Ibu | Mother/Mommy | Pronoun |
| Dia | She/He | Pronoun |
| Mereka | They | Pronoun |
| Kita/Kami | We/Us | Pronoun |
| Iya | Yes | Interjection |
| Tidak | No | Interjection |
| Terus | Then/Next | Conjunction |
| Makan | Eat | Verb |
| Minum | Drink | Verb |
| Bangun | Wake up | Verb |
| Tidur | Sleep | Verb |
| dan | and | Conjunction |
| atau | or | Conjunction |
| tapi | but | Conjunction |
| Ini | This | Pronoun |
| Itu | That | Pronoun |
| Beli | Buy | Verb |
| Bayar | Pay | Verb |
| Masak | Cook | Verb |
| Kerja/bekerja | Work | Verb |
| Sekolah/bersekolah | School/ go to school | Noun/Verb |
| yang | Which/That | Conjunction |
| di | at | Preposition |
| Beri | Give | Verb |
| Terima | Accept | Verb |
| dengan | with | Conjunction |
| Apa | What | Question |
| Bagaimana | How | Question |
| Kenapa | Why | Question |
| Dimana | Where | Question |
| Kapan | When | Question |
| Kalau/jika | If | Conjunction |
| Jangan | Don’t | Interjection |
Informal language and slang
| Indonesian | Meaning (in English) | Types |
| Gue/gw (Saya) | I | Pronoun |
| Elo/lu/lo/Situ (Kamu) | You | Pronoun |
| Yoi (Iya) | Yes | Interjection |
| Ama (Sama/dengan) | with | Conjunction |
| Bokap (Bapak), Nyokap (Ibu) | Father/Daddy, Mother/Mommy | Pronoun |
| Woles (Santai) | Calm down | Adjective |
| Lebay (Berlebihan) | Too much | Adjective |
| Baper (Bawa Perasaan) | Sensitive | Adjective |
| Kagak/Enggak (Tidak) | No/Nay | Interjection |
| Ngomong (Bicara) | Talk | Verb |
| Anjir (sial) | Shit/Damn | Interjection |
| Gokil/Anjay (Apik) | Cool/Great | Interjection |
| Doang/Aja (Saja) | Just/only | Adjective |
| Pengen/mau (Ingin) | want (I want) | Verb |
| Duit (uang) | Money | Noun |
| Dikit (Sedikit) | A little/just little | Adjective |
| Agan/Sis (Mas/Mbak) | Brother/Sister | Pronoun |
| Jayus (tidak jelas/tidak lucu) | Weird/unclear | Adjective |
| Caper (Cari perhatian) | Apple polishing | Adjective |
| Bomat (Bodoh amat) | indifferent | Interjection |
| Banget | Very | Adverb |
Example of Usage:
- Gue enggak tidur = I don’t sleep
- Ibu sedang memasak = Mom is cooking
- Caper lo! = You are such an apple polisher!
- Dia ngomong apa? = What did she say?
- Bapak sedang bekerja = Daddy is working
- Anjir, segini doang duitnya! = Damn, this is only my money!
- Jayus banget! = So weird/unclear!
- Jangan tidur di Sekolah! = Don’t sleep at school!
- Ibu memasak dengan Ayah = Mom is cooking with Dad
- Jangan terima uangnya! = Don’t accept the money!
Because the world has entered 21st century era, Indonesian people sometimes speak or use English as if it is their language. Many people mix their language both in Bahasa or English. However, Indonesian people are often to speak with their slang than speak with their formal language.
Those are the examples of the words and how to use the most commonly used Indonesian words. There’re still some words, however they depend on the people who use or speak those words.
Despite of different language to be used, what are the most commonly used Indonesian words you have found and spoken in daily life?
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