Indonesian is a very exciting language to learn. This is largely due to its simplicity. No new alphabet to learn, no verb tenses, and no grammatical gender either. And the perks are huge. You’ll be speaking the ninth most common language in the world, and you’ll even be able to understand a fair bit of Malaysian. But let’s face it. Learning a language doesn’t really cut it. Total language mastery is what you should always be aiming for. Whether you’re a beginner, an intermediate learner, or a more advanced Indonesian student, you will always want to master the ins and outs of every skill within your current level before moving forward.  The three most important skills that dictate your performance at every level are... Show more

We’ve all heard of the island of Bali in Indonesia. It’s one of the world’s most exotic travel destinations. The beaches, nature, and greenness are heavenly, and this imagery is the first thing that comes to mind when one thinks of “Indonesia.” Another fascinating component of Bali is its fauna, with the Komodo dragon being its most famous species. The dragon has been named the largest lizard, and the deadly venom in its saliva makes it one of the most lethal predators in the world. In this article, we’ll introduce you to Indonesian animal words that will help you talk about the variety of unique animals that live in Indonesia as well as the most common animals abroad. Orangutans, Sumatran tigers, Bali starlings...these animals,... Show more

Ever heard of the 7-38-55 communication rule? The rule says that communication is composed of 7 percent spoken word, 38 percent tone of voice, and 55 percent body language. While this rule is sometimes misconstrued, it’s true that we rely heavily on these subtle clues when communicating.  But on the phone, we’re limited to only 45% of our communication means: spoken word and tone of voice.  This can make it nerve-wracking to get on the phone with a stranger. It’s a style of communication we’re not naturally made for.  And phone calls in a foreign language like Indonesian can be even scarier!  Learning a few Indonesian phone call phrases can help take a lot of this pressure off your shoulders. Once you have the most common... Show more

Did you know that 40 to 50 percent of couples in the U.S.A. end up divorcing? Staggering, right? Now compare that to Indonesia’s continuously declining 10% divorce rate. With stats like that, you’ll probably find yourself feeling very good about the idea of having an Indonesian partner. Being a conservative country, Indonesia is the perfect place for securing a stable, loving relationship if that’s your cup of tea. And considering that it’s one of the easiest languages to pick up, learning some Indonesian-language love phrases to help you express your feelings is definitely not a bad time investment. This is especially true if you count the benefits you might reap from impressing your partner with your Indonesian skills. ... Show more

If you’ve decided to learn a foreign language, whether for work or just for fun, it’s essential to stay positive and motivated. This will make all the difference as you progress toward your language learning goals.  As you aim for positivity and a smooth language learning journey, I’m sure you would love to always be able to say yes! However, as you may imagine, you’ll also need to learn how to form negative sentences in Indonesian before you master the language. Don’t worry though. We only mean "negative" from a grammatical point of view…so keep the positive vibe! In this article, you’ll learn all about negation in Indonesian: how to answer a closed-ended question correctly and politely, how to transform positive sentences into... Show more

If you’re planning to start learning a foreign language, Indonesian might seem like an odd choice… But it really isn’t!  So, why learn Indonesian? Especially when there are so many other (more popular) languages to choose from? Well, did you know that Indonesia is the fourth most populous region on the entire planet? This means that you’ll have about 23 million potential conversation partners, if we’re just talking about native speakers. If we count those who speak it as a second language, that number skyrockets to over 200 million! This is only one of the many reasons you should start learning Indonesian now… Do you want to learn 10 more? Keep reading and you won’t be disappointed.  Table of Contents Benefits of... Show more

Those who have tried know: Learning a foreign language may not be easy, but it’s an amazing and fulfilling process. By learning to understand, speak, and think in a foreign language, we add a new skill to our repertoire—but that’s not all! We can also change the very way we see the world. But in today’s civilization, time is money and many of us feel too trapped by responsibilities to try mastering a language ourselves. So if you’re planning to study Indonesian, an important question to ask yourself is: How long does it take to learn Indonesian? And perhaps more importantly: Is it worth the investment?  Did you know that Indonesian has a lot of words that can’t be translated into English? One of my favorites is faedah, which... Show more

Proverbs are popular sayings that provide a little dose of wisdom, a truth that is sometimes so obvious we overlook it.  Can you think of a proverb in your native language that touched you at an important moment of your life? Indonesians are actually famous for using a lot of slang words and proverbs in their daily lives. If you want to sound like a local, you’d better learn some Indonesian proverbs yourself! Doing so is a great way to let your language skills shine and familiarize yourself with Indonesian culture. As they say, "There is no time like the present." Learn the thirty most popular Indonesian proverbs and you’ll be sure to leave a good impression! Table of Contents The Top 30 Indonesian Proverbs ... Show more

It’s easy to recognize English loanwords in Indonesian, and they pop up at all levels of language use. If you were to open up Wikipedia, a Jakarta newspaper, or even a YouTube comment section in Indonesian right now, chances are a couple of words would jump out at you.  In this article, we’ll introduce you to some key characteristics of English words in Indonesian, and before long, you’ll be using them perfectly yourself! Table of Contents Introduction to Indonesian English Examples of English Used in Indonesian Loanwords vs. Indonesian English What an Indonesian Accent Sounds Like in English English Words Derived from Indonesian Conclusion Introduction to Indonesian English The thing about Indonesian is... Show more

Anybody who’s visited Indonesia knows that the country is big on culture. From traditional handicrafts and performances to pariwisata budaya ("cultural tourism"), Indonesians enjoy sharing their culture with a world that’s usually all too eager to overlook its multicolored facets. How well do you know Indonesian culture? If your answer is "not at all," this lesson is for you. Table of Contents Values and Beliefs Philosophies and Religions The Indonesian Family Indonesian Art Indonesian Food Traditional Holidays Conclusion 1. Values and Beliefs "Unity in Diversity." That’s the English translation of the old Javanese phrase Bhinneka Tunggal Ika, the official motto of the Republic of... Show more