Easy Tips to Learn Bahasa Indonesia

Hi! If you are reading this, maybe you want to learn Bahasa Indonesia. That’s great! Bahasa Indonesia is a beautiful and simple language. It is the official language of Indonesia, a country with more than 17,000 islands and over 270 million people. This article will help you with easy tips to learn Bahasa Indonesia, step by step.

Let’s get started!

1. Learn Simple Words First

Don’t worry about grammar or long sentences in the beginning. Start with simple and useful words that you can use every day.

Here are some examples:

You can write them down in a notebook or use flashcards. Review them every day until you remember them.

2. Listen to How People Speak

Bahasa Indonesia is easy to pronounce because it is written as it sounds. But still, listening is very important. Try these ways to listen and learn:

• Watch Indonesian movies or TV shows with English subtitles. Some good examples are Laskar Pelangi or Ada Apa Dengan Cinta.

• Listen to Indonesian songs. Start with slow and clear songs, like those by Raisa or Tulus.

• Follow Indonesian YouTubers who speak slowly and clearly. Some channels even make content for beginners!

Listening will help you understand how native speakers speak and pronounce words.

3. Speak from Day One

Don’t be shy. Try to speak from the first day, even if it’s just one word or sentence. For example:

• “Saya mau makan.” → I want to eat.

• “Saya tinggal di Jakarta.” → I live in Jakarta.

• “Ini enak sekali!” → This is very delicious!

You can practice with:

• A friend who speaks Bahasa Indonesia

• A language exchange partner

• Yourself, in front of a mirror!

Practice makes perfect.

4. Use Bahasa Indonesia Every Day

Use the language every day, even just a little. You can:

• Write your shopping list in Bahasa Indonesia

• Label things in your house (e.g. meja for table, kursi for chair)

• Change your phone’s language to Bahasa Indonesia

• Try to think in Bahasa Indonesia

This helps your brain get used to the language. Small things done every day make a big difference!

5. Learn Simple Grammar (Don’t Worry, It’s Easy!)

The good news is: Bahasa Indonesia has no verb conjugation. That means you don’t have to change the verb for different people or tenses!

For example:

• I eat = Saya makan

• You eat = Kamu makan

• They eat = Mereka makan

The verb makan (to eat) doesn’t change!

To talk about time, you just add a time word:

• Yesterday = kemarin → Saya makan kemarin (I ate yesterday)

• Now = sekarang → Saya makan sekarang (I am eating now)

• Tomorrow = besok → Saya makan besok (I will eat tomorrow)

Isn’t that great?

6. Learn the Particles: "lah", "kok", "dong", "deh", and "nih"

Bahasa Indonesia uses many little words called particles. They do not have a clear meaning but give color or feeling to a sentence.

Examples:

• "lah" = used to give emphasis → “Ayo lah, cepat!” (Come on, hurry!)

• "kok" = to show surprise → “Kok kamu di sini?” (Why are you here?)

• "dong" = to make a request softer → “Bantu aku, dong!” (Please help me!)

• "deh" = to suggest or agree → “Oke deh.” (Okay then.)

• "nih" = to show giving something → “Ini nih buat kamu.” (Here, this is for you.)

You will hear these all the time in conversations. Don’t try to understand them perfectly—just listen and copy how people use them.

7. Use Language Apps

There are many apps to help you learn Bahasa Indonesia. Some popular ones:

• Duolingo – Good for beginners

• Memrise – Has native speaker videos

• Ling App – Focuses on daily conversations

• Tandem / HelloTalk – Find language partners to chat with

Apps make it fun to learn and help you remember words better.

8. Learn from Real Conversations

Textbooks are okay, but real conversations are better! Try to listen to how people really speak. Indonesian people often shorten words or use slang.

Example:

• “Saya tidak tahu.” → formal

• “Aku nggak tahu.” → informal

• “Gak tau.” → very casual

If you live in Indonesia or visit, listen carefully. You can also search for "Bahasa gaul" (slang Indonesian) to learn fun and casual words.

9. Don’t Be Afraid to Make Mistakes

This is very important. You will make mistakes. That’s okay!

Indonesian people are usually very friendly and will be happy to help you. When you try to speak their language, they will appreciate your effort.

So don’t be afraid. Mistakes are part of learning. Just keep going!

10. Have Fun with It!

Learning a new language should be fun. You can:

• Write a diary in Bahasa Indonesia

• Watch cartoons in Bahasa Indonesia

• Play games in Bahasa Indonesia

• Try to cook using an Indonesian recipe

Enjoy the process. The more fun you have, the faster you learn.

Final Words

Bahasa Indonesia is one of the easiest languages in the world. No conjugation, no tones, simple grammar, and friendly people to talk to. With just 10–15 minutes a day, you can make good progress.

Remember these tips:

• Start simple

• Listen a lot

• Speak early

• Use it every day

• Don’t fear mistakes

And most importantly: have fun!

Good luck on your language journey. Or in Bahasa Indonesia: Semangat belajar!