The Indonesian language has absorbed many loanwords from other languages:
Indonesian has also generalized brand names into common (lower-case) nouns. For example, "sanyo" refers to any electrical well pump, regardless of manufacturer. This is similar to the type of generalization that occurs in English words like "xerox" or "tampax" or "polaroid".
Indonesian differs from the Malay language in a number of respects, primarily due to the different influences both languages experienced.
Words borrowed into English (e.g., bamboo, orangutan, dugong, amok) generally entered through Malay language by way of British colonial presence in Malaysia and Singapore. One exception is "bantam", derived from the name of the Indonesian province Banten in Western Java (see Oxford American Dictionary, 2005 edition). Another is "lahar" which is Javanese for a volcanic mudflow. Still other words taken into modern English from Malay/Indonesian probably have other origins (e.g., "satay" from Tamil, or "ketchup" from Chinese).
Word | Meaning | Original word |
---|---|---|
abang | older brother | abang |
anjungan | pavilion | anjuang |
awak | you (regional), crew, member | awak |
gadis | girl, virgin | gadih, gadis |
dara | girl, virgin, dove | daro, dara |
elok | good, beautiful | elok |
nan | which, who (connecting word) | nan |
nian | very, really, trully | nian |
ranah | realm, domain | ranah: land |
rancak | beautiful | rancak |
Word | Meaning | Original word |
---|---|---|
adem | cool temperature | adhem |
adiluhung/adiluhur | refined, highly sophisticated taste | adiluhung |
among | nurture | among |
apik | neat, nice | apik |
asri | beautiful (scenery/nature), neat, clean, nice | asri |
ayu | beautiful (women), pretty, gorgeous, graceful, elegant | ayu |
ayom | give shade, foster, protect | ayom, hangayomi |
baluwarti | palace fortified wall | baluwerti |
batik | batik | mbatik, from: amba-nitik |
betot | pull suddenly | betot |
bromocorah | criminal | bromocorah |
buron/buronan | runaway or fugitive | buron: from buru-an (to be hunted) |
canggih | sophisticated | canggih |
edan | crazy | edhan |
empu | maestro, master craftsman | mpu |
gembel | pauper, beggar | gembhel: refer to shaggy sometimes dirty hair or sheep woll |
gerebek | raid | grebeg: traditional ceremony involving mass competing to grab sacred objects |
gilas | run over | giles |
jago | skillful, expert | jago: rooster |
jagoan | tough guy, hero | jago: rooster |
kemben | torso wrap | kembhen |
kesurupan | possessed | surup: fit, enter |
konde | bulbous hairdo or hair extension on the back of the head | kondhe |
lara | sadness (poetic) | lara: sickness |
larung | intentionally swept or send away through water (river/sea) | larung |
lapik | base | lapik |
luhur | noble, high | dhuwur, luhur |
mumpuni | accomplished | mumpuni |
nusantara | Indonesian archipelago | nusantara |
pagar langkan | balustrade | pagar langkan |
resik | clean, well maintained | resik |
selaras | harmonious | slaras |
semberono | careless | sembrono |
semrawut | complicated mess, out of order | semrawut |
tentram | peaceful | tentrem |
tembang | song | tembang |
titisan | reincarnated | nitis |
undakan | stages | undhak |
unduh | download | unduh |
unggah | upload | munggah |
Word | Meaning | Original word |
---|---|---|
aci | tapioca flour | aci sampeu |
amburadul | mess, something out of order | amburadul |
anjangsana | high official visiting | anjangsana |
balairung | hall | bale riung: traditional building for meeting |
bloon (spelled blo-'on) | stupid | blo'on/o'on |
hatur | to express, to send (polite) | haturkeun |
jangkung | tall | jangkung |
juara | champion, winner | jawara: tough guy, fighter, hero |
kedap | proof as in "kedap air" (water-proof) | kedap |
kesima | awe, amaze | kesima |
kesohor | famous | kasohor |
kolot | old fashioned | kolot: old |
lalap | raw vegetable, consumed | lalab |
menyaru | pretending, camouflaging | menyaru |
risih | uneasy, uncomfortable | risih |
patungan | chip in, joint-venture, collecting money to buy something for common use | patungan |
pengaruh | influence | pangaruh |
pemulung | waste picker | noun of the verb pulung: pick |
pepes | cooking method using banana leaf wrapping | papais: plural form of pais |
siksa | torture | siksa: education |
uwa | uncle or aunty older than parent | uwa |
Word | Meaning | Original word |
---|---|---|
gelandang | football midfielder, bringer | gelandang |
gelandangan | homeless | gelandangan |
ngamen | street performance | ngamen |
nganggur | idle, jobless | nganggur |
ribet | complicated, hard, not easy | ribet |
timpuk | throw | timpuk |
Word | Meaning | Original word |
---|---|---|
anda | you (respectful) | anda |
Word | Meaning | Original word |
---|---|---|
molek | beautiful, pretty | molek |
Word | Meaning | Original word |
---|---|---|
beta | I, me, myself | béta |
Word | Meaning | Original word |
---|---|---|
pasti | surely | so pasti |
Word | Meaning | Original word |
---|---|---|
adi | ultimate (poetic) | adhi |
agama | religion | āgama — Vedic principles |
aksara | letter | aksara |
angkasa | sky | akasa |
arti | meaning | krti: understanding |
asmara | love, passion | smara |
asrama | dormitory | ashram |
bahasa | language | bhāsā |
bahaya | danger | bhaya |
bakti, bhakti | homage, devotion, service etc. | bhakti |
bangsa | nation, race | vamca: lineage, dynasty |
barat | west | bharat: India, located west from Indonesia |
bayu | wind (poetic) | vayu: Hindu god of wind |
berita | news | varta |
biara | monastery | vihara |
bidadari | apsara, nymph, lesser female deities | vidyadhari: bearer of knowledge |
bina | to build | bhinna: different, fresh, new |
binaraga | bodybuilding | from combined words bina: to build and raga: body |
budi | reason, virtue | boddhi, related to buddhism |
bijaksana | wise, wisdom | vicakshana |
bila | when | vela (time) |
buana | world (poetic) | bhuvana |
budaya | culture | combination of boddhi: virtue and dhaya: power |
bumi | earth | bhumi |
bupati | the title of regency/regional leader | bhupati: lord of the earth |
busana | clothing | bhusana |
cahaya | light | chāyā |
cakram, cakra | disk, sphere etc. | chakra |
cangkang | shell | çangkha: winged shell attribute of Vishnu |
cakrawala | horizon | chakravala |
chandra | moon (poetic), lunar | chandra: Hindu moon god |
citra | image | chitra |
dana | donation, funds | dhana |
dasawarsa | decade | combined word from dasa: ten and varsa: rain, year |
daya | power | dhaya |
denda | fine, punishment | danda |
dewa | god | deva |
dewi | goddess | devi |
desa | village | desh |
dharma, darma | duty, good deeds (i.e. charity), truth etc. | dharmma |
derma | alms giving | same origin with dharmma |
dirgahayu | long live | dīrgha (long) and āyu (age); āyuṣā = with a life span |
duka | sadness | dukkha |
durjana | evil, wicked, malicious | durjana |
gajah | elephant | gajha |
gapura | gate | gopuram |
gaya | stylish, fashionable | gaya: wealth, worth going to |
gita | song (poetic) | gita |
genta | bell | genta |
guna | utilize, use, purpose | ghuna |
guru | teacher, guru | guru |
hina | lowly, inferior | hinna: small, lesser, petty |
istri | wife | sttri |
jagat | universe | jhagad |
jasa | merit, service, etc. | jasa |
jaya | glorious | jaya |
jelata | common people | janata |
jiwa | life, soul, sanity | jiva |
kala | time | kala |
karma | karma | karma: Hindu-Buddhist concept |
karsa | initiative, will | karsha |
kartika | star (poetic) | kartika |
karya | work, oeuvre | karya |
kepala | head | kaphala |
kerja | work | karya |
kencana | gold, golden, grand, glorious | kanchana: gold |
kuda | horse | kudda |
lencana | seal, emblem | lanchana |
maha | great, super, hyper, very | maha |
mahkota | crown | makuta |
mantera | mantra | mantra |
menteri | minister (head of a government department) | mantri |
merdeka | freedom, liberty | mahardhikka |
mitra | partner | mitra: friend |
muka | face | mukkha |
mula | to start, to begin | mula: origin |
naga | dragon | naga: serpent deities |
nama | name | naam |
negara | country | nagara |
negeri | city (lit.) | nagarī |
neraka | hell | naraka |
nirwana | an ideal condition of harmony or joy | nirvana |
nusa | island (poetic) | nusa |
pahala | merit, reward (for moral conduct) | phala (of fruits, of results) |
paksa | to force | paksha |
pendeta | priest, today used for christian priest | pandhita |
pendopo | hall | mandhapa, through Javanese: pendhapa |
pekerti | understanding | krti: understanding |
perkasa | powerful, forceful, manly | prakasha |
perkosa | rape | prakasha (same origin as perkasa) |
perwira | high-ranked military official | vira: brave or eminent man, hero, chief |
pria | man/men | priya: beloved, dear |
puasa | fasting | upawasa: get near to god (wisdom) |
puja | worship, adore | puja |
punya | have, possessive verb | punia: merit, deserving |
pura | Hindu temple, city | pura: city/walled enclosure |
purba | ancient | purva |
puri | palace | pura: city/walled enclosure |
pustaka | book | pushtaka |
puspa | flower (poetic) | pushpa |
putera, putra | son | putra: prince |
puteri, putri | daughter, princess | putri: princess |
raga | body | raga: to please, to colour |
rahasia | secret | rahasya |
raja | king | raja |
raksasa | giant, monster | rakshasa: demon |
rani | queen | rani |
rasa | emotion, feeling, taste | rasha |
ratna | jewel, gemstone (poetic) | ratna |
resmi | official | rashmi: ray of light |
rupa | look, appearance | rupa |
sabda | to proclaim (poetic) | sabda |
samudra | ocean | samudra |
sasana | training hall | sasana: teaching |
sastra | literature | sashtra |
satwa | fauna | sattva |
semadi | meditation, contemplation | samadhi |
sempurna | perfect | sampurna: entirely, complete |
sengsara | suffering | samsara: continuous flow of reincarnation |
senopati | general, military leader (archaic) | senapati |
seteru | enemy | satru |
setia | loyal, truthful | satya: truth, correct |
serba | all, everyhing, complete | sarva: all or everything |
singa | lion | singha |
singgasana | throne | singha-sana: the lion throne |
suami | husband | svami |
suara | sound | svara |
sukma | soul | suksma: subtle |
sunyi | quiet (situation) | śūnya: zero, nothing |
surga | heaven | svarga-loka |
surya | sun (poetic), solar | surya: Hindu sun god |
suka | like, happy | sukkha |
susila | modesty, appropriate | sushila |
swa- | do something by oneself | sva: self, own |
tata | order, to arrange | tatha |
tali | rope, string | talli |
topi | hat | topi |
unta | camel | ushtra |
upacara | ceremony | uppakara: religious ritual |
usaha | effort | utsaha |
usia | age | yuṣa |
utama | ultimate, the most important, foremost | uttama |
utara | north | uttara |
wahana | ride, vehicle | vahana |
wana | forest (poetic) | vana |
wangsa | dynasty, royal house | vamca: lineage |
warna | colour | varna |
warta | news | varta (same origin as berita) |
warta berita | news broadcast | varta |
yudha | war, battle (poetic) | yuddha |
Word | Meaning | Original word |
---|---|---|
apam | kind of cake | apam |
gulai | kind of curry | gulai |
kapal | boat | kappal |
kedai | foodstall | kedai |
mangga | mango | manga |
Word | Meaning | Original word |
---|---|---|
abdi | servant | Abd |
adab | civilize, proper | adab |
akal | reason | 'aqlun |
akhir | end | akhirun |
akhlak | moral | akhlaqun |
akhirat | hereafter | akhiratun |
alam | nature | alam |
aljabar | algebra | aljabbar |
amal | alms giving, good deed | aml |
anda | you (formal) | anta |
asal | origin | asl |
asli | real, original | asl |
awal | beginning | awwalun |
badan | body | baddan |
bahari | maritime, naval | bahri: sea |
berkah | bless, barakah | barkatun |
daftar | list | daftarun |
dakwah | sermon | da'wah |
dunia | world | dun-yaa` |
fakir | poor people, pauper | fakr |
gaib | unseen, other world | ghaib |
halal | religiously lawful | halal |
haram | religiously unlawful | haraam |
hewan | animal | haywan |
hikmah | (deeper) meaning | hikma |
ilmu | knowledge, science | ilmi |
jadwal | schedule | jadwal |
jahanam | cursed, damned | jahannam: a name of hell, from hebrew: gehenna |
jail | prank, practical joke | jahil: ignorance |
jilbab | hijab head covering | hijab |
kafir | infidel | kafir |
kitab | book | kitabun |
korban | sacrifice | qurban |
kurma | date palm | qurma |
kursi | chair | kursiyyun |
laskar | soldier | ash'kar |
lisan | mouthly, mouth | litsanun |
maaf | sorry, to apologise | maaf |
makna | meaning | ma'na |
maksud | meaning, purpose | ma'sud |
majelis | assembly, majlis | majlis |
masjid | mosque | masjid |
maut | dead, deadly | mawt |
menara | tower | manārah: lighthouse |
miskin | poor | miskin |
mubazir | useless | mubazir |
muflis | bankrupt | muflis |
mungkin | maybe | mumkin |
murtad | apostate | murtad |
munafik | hypocrite | munaffiq |
musim | season | musim |
nafsu | desire | nafs |
najis | disgusting, unclean | najis |
nikah | married | munakhat |
petuah | lesson, advice | fatwa |
pikir | to think | fikr |
rahmat | blessing | rahmah |
sabar | patience | sabr |
sabun | soap | sabuun |
saleh | pious | shalih |
salju | snow | thalji |
sedekah | gift, shodaqoh | shadaqatun |
sehat | healthy | shihat |
selamat | safe, well-being | salamah |
shalat | pray | shalah |
shaum | fasting | shaum |
siasat | trick | siasatun |
surat | letter | surah |
sukur/syukur | thankful | shukr |
sunat | circumcision | sunnat |
syariah | Islamic law | shari'a |
senin | monday | ttsnain |
selasa | tuesday | tsalasa |
rabu | wednesday | arba'a |
kamis | thursday | khams |
khitan | circumcision | khitan |
jumat | friday | jum'ah |
sabtu | saturday | sabtu |
wahid | number one, the best | wahidun |
wajah | face | wajh |
waktu | time | waqtun |
wilayah | region, area | wilayah |
yunani | greece | yunnan: ionia |
zaitun | olive | zaytun |
zakat | alms | zakkatun |
zakar | penis and testicles | zakkarun |
zaman / jaman | era | zaman |
zinah | adultery | zina |
Word | Meaning | Original word |
---|---|---|
anggur | grape | angur |
bandar | port | bandar |
cadar | veil | chadoor |
dewan | assembly, meeting | diwan: administration |
firdaus | eden, bountiful garden | pairideaza |
gandum | wheat | gandum |
pahlawan | hero | pahlavi |
pasar | market/bazaar | pasar |
piala | cup, trophy | piyala |
piyama | pajamas | piyama |
pesona | charm | |
nakhoda | captain of a ship | nakhoda |
takhta | throne | tahkti |
sihir | magic | sihir |
syahbandar | portmaster | syahbandar |
zirah | armor | zirah |
Almost all loan words in Indonesian with Chinese origin comes from Hokkien dialect. Loan words in Indonesian with Chinese origins.
Word | Meaning | Original word |
---|---|---|
amoi | Chinese girl | 阿妹 amei: sister |
angciu | cooking wine used for food flavour enchancer | 紅酒 ang ciu: red wine |
angpao | gift money for Chinese New Year | 紅包 ang bao |
bacang | zongzi | 粽子 bak cang |
bakmie | meat noodle | 肉麵 bamien |
bakso | meatball | (肉絲?) ba so |
bakpau | meatbun | 肉包 ba pao |
bihun | rice vermicelli | 米粉 bee hoon |
cap cai | stir fried vegetable dish | 雜碎 cha̍p-chhài |
cawan | cup | 茶碗 chawan |
cukong | tycoon | 主公 cu kong |
dacin | balance scale | dacin |
gua / gué | me (slang) | 我 gua |
hoki | luck, fortune | 福氣 hok ki |
kakak | older brother | 哥哥 ko--koh |
kecap | soybean sauce (ketchup is 'saus tomat', not kecap) | 茄汁 (disputed) |
kerangkeng | cage | 間 -keng: room in Hokkien |
kue | kuih (cake) | 粿 kwe |
kwetiau | kway teow (flat noodle) | 粿條 kway teow |
lihai | skilfull | 厲害 li hai |
lobak | daikon | 蘿蔔 lo ba |
loténg | 2nd storey of a house, attic | 樓頂 lo teng |
lumpia | spring roll | 潤餅 lun pia |
mak comblang | match maker | |
mesiu | gunpowder | (not clear whether of Chinese descent or not) |
mi / mie | noodle | 麵 mien |
micin | MSG (flavouring for cooking) | (味精?) vetsin |
sempoa | abacus, suanpan | 算盤 sui poa, suanpan |
singkék | Chinese newcomer (derogative), pure blooded Chinese, i.e. not of mixed ancestry | 新客 |
siomay | shumai (dumpling) | 燒賣 shu mai |
tahu | tofu | 豆腐 toufu |
teh | tea | 茶 te |
teko | tea pot | 茶壺 te ko |
tionghoa | Chinese | 中華 chung hwa |
tiongkok | China | 中國 chung kuo |
Word | Meaning | Original word |
---|---|---|
almari | cupboard | armario |
armada | fleet | armada |
bangku | chair | banco: sitting |
bank | bank | banco: financial institution |
belanda | Dutch, Holland, | Holanda |
bendéra | flag | bandeira |
beranda | verandah | varanda |
biola | violin | viola |
bola | ball | bola |
(kué) bolu | (a type of) cake | bolo |
bonéka | doll | boneca |
dansa | dance (not including traditional dance) | dança |
garpu | fork | garfo |
geréja | church | igreja |
jendéla | window | janela |
kéju | cheese | queijo |
keméja | shirt | camisa |
keréta | chariot/car | carreta |
lemari | closet | armário |
meja | table | mesa |
mentéga | butter | manteiga |
minggu | sunday | domingo |
natal | christmas | natal |
nona | young woman | donha |
pésta | party | festa |
pita | ribbon | fita |
pompa | pump | bomba hidráulica |
sekolah | school | escola (Latin: schola) |
sepatu | shoe | sapato |
serdadu | army | soldado |
témpo | time | tempo |
terigu | wheat | trigo |
frambus | raspberry | framboesa (Dutch: framboos) |
gardu | to guard, watch post | guarda (Dutch: garde) |
gubernur | governor | governador (Dutch: Gouverneur) |
gratis | free (not having to pay) | grátis |
topik | topic | tópico |
Word | Meaning | Original word |
---|---|---|
administrasi | administration | administratie |
arde | ground (electricity) | aarde |
arbéi | strawberry | aardbei |
ban | tire | band |
baskom, waskom | washbasin | waskom |
beha | brassiere | beha |
béngkél | workplace | winkel: store, originally angle |
besuk | visiting | bezoeken |
bioskop | cinema | bioscoop |
buncis | green beans | boontjes |
bruder | Roman Catholic friar | broeder = brother |
buku | book | boek |
dak | roof | dak |
dasi | necktie | das(je) |
émbér | bucket | emmer |
éngsél | hinges | hengsel |
handuk | towel | handdoek |
hanger | hanger | hanger |
kabel | cable | kabel |
kaisar | emperor | keizer |
kakus | toilet | verb: kakken/noun: kakhuis |
kalkun | turkey | kalkoen |
kamar | room | kamer |
kantor | office | kantoor |
karcis | ticket | kaartjes: plural for diminutive of kaart, card or ticket) |
kartu | card | kaart |
kelar | ready, finished | klaar |
keran | faucet, tap | kraan |
knalpot (or kenalpot) | muffler (on a motor vehicle) | knalpot |
kol | cabbages | kool |
kopi | coffee | koffie |
korting | discount | korting |
kulkas | ice box or refrigerator | koelkast |
kusén | window frame | kozijn |
laci | deskdrawer | laatje: diminutive form of la(de) |
lampu | lamp | lamp |
mantel | coat | mantel |
migrasi | migration | migratie |
mises | sprinkles | muisjes |
mobil | car, automobile | automobiel |
motor | motorcycle | motorfiets |
mur / baut | nut/bolt | moer/bout |
nanas | pineapple | ananas |
oom / om | uncle | oom |
oranye | orange (colour) | oranje |
pabrik | factory | fabriek |
pénsil | pencil | penseel (brush) |
persik | peach | perzik |
plafon | ceiling | plafond, from French |
potlot | pencil | potlood |
rékening | account | rekening |
résléting | zipper | ritssluiting |
ribewis | driving licence | rijbewijs |
rokok | cigarette | roken: to smoke |
sekrup | screw | schroef |
selang | water hose | slang |
sempak | swim briefs | zwempak |
setrika | clothes iron | strijkijzer |
setrum | current (electricity) | stroom |
sirkulasi | circulation | circulatie |
solusi | solution | solutie |
spanduk | commercial or information banner | spandoeken |
stopkontak | power socket | stopcontact |
tante | aunt | tante, from French |
tas | bag | tas |
tégel | floor tile | tegel |
telat | late | te laat (too late) |
televisi | television | televisie |
tomat | tomato | tomaat |
wastafel | sink | wastafel |
wortel | carrot | wortel |
suster | nun, nurse, sister | zuster |
Word | Meaning | Original word |
---|---|---|
demokrasi | democracy | demokratia |
filsafat | philosophy | philasophia, through Arabic: falsafah |
mitos | myth | mythos |
stadion | stadium | stadion |
Word | Meaning | Original word |
---|---|---|
abolisi | abolition | abolitia |
ad interim | temporarily | ad interim |
akta | act (law) | actus |
amnesti | amnesty, state-granted pardon | amnestia |
almamater | revered name for one's university | almamater: wise and nurturing mother |
forum | forum | forum |
humaniora | humanities | humaniora |
kantata | song | cantata |
kredo | creed | credo |
kualitas | quality | kualitas, through Dutch: kualiteit |
misi | mision | misi |
nihil | nil, nothing, zero | nihil |
nota bene | actually, after look carefully | nota bene: examine closely |
oknum | authority figure (police, soldier, prosecutor, judge) that perform unlawful or corrupted deed | ocnum: name personal |
status | status | status |
universitas | university | universitas |
Word | Meaning | Original word |
---|---|---|
akur | agree, get along well | accord |
garnisun | garrison | garnison |
gerilya | guerilla | guérille |
infanteri | infantry | infanterie |
intrik | intrigue | intrique |
kado | gift | cadeau, through Dutch: kado/cadeau |
karoseri | the body of vehicle, car, coach, or bus | carrosserie |
kavaleri | cavalry | cavalerie |
klise | cliche | cliché |
kudeta | coup | coup d'état |
legiun | legion | légion |
letnan | lieutenant | lieutenant |
manuver | manouver | manouvre |
sabotase | sabotage | sabotage |
sepeda | bicycle | velocipede |
supir | driver | chauffeur |
Word | Meaning | Original word |
---|---|---|
dakocan | black cartoon character | takko-chan: octopus character |
ebi | dried shrimp | ébi: shrimp |
harakiri | suicide | hara kiri: cutting one's stomach |
kamikaze | suicidal soldier | kami kaze: the wind of god |
kempeitai | military police of the Japanese Army (World War II) | kempeitai |
jibaku | struggle | jibaku |
romusha | enslaved worker (during Japanese occupation) | romusha |
taiso | calisthenics | taishoo |
toko | shop | |
tsunami | tsunami | tsunami |
Word | Meaning | Original word |
---|---|---|
apartemen | apartment | apartment |
astronot | astronaut | astronaut |
bisnis | business | business |
gosip | gossip | gossip |
internet | internet | internet |
komputer | computer | computer |
kondom | condom | condom |
mite | myth | myth |
modem | modem | modem |
modern | modern | modern |
pilot | pilot | pilot |
ponsel / hape / handphone | cell phone | hand phone |
radar | radar | radar |
roket | rocket | rocket |
satelit | satellite | satellite |
seks | sex | sex |
sistem | system | system |
stroberi | strawberry | strawberry |
target | target | target |