Best Flashcard Sets to Learn Indonesian Vocabulary (Bahasa Indonesia Everyday Words & Phrases)
Master the 480 most important everyday Indonesian words across 15 thematic flashcard decks (CEFR A1–B2), with pronunciation guides, noun-modifier word order rules, high-yield prefixes (ber-, me-, di-, pe-), and spaced repetition routines.
Interactive Premade Curricula
Indonesian Flashcard Decks (15)
Select any deck below to study cards with active recall, audio pronunciation, and FSRS spaced repetition, or filter by difficulty level.
Indonesian — Greetings, Polite Words & Everyday Phrases
Indonesian — Numbers, Days of the Week & Basic Time Expressions
Indonesian — Home, Rooms, Furniture & Everyday Objects
Indonesian — Food, Drinks, Meals & Ordering at a Restaurant
Indonesian — Fruits, Vegetables & Supermarket Groceries
Indonesian — Family, People, Friends & Relationships
Indonesian — Clothing, Shoes, Accessories & Colors
Indonesian — Body Parts, Health, Doctor & Pharmacy
Indonesian — Animals, Pets, Nature & Weather
Indonesian — Travel, Airport, Train, Hotel & Directions
Indonesian — City Places, Shops, Money & Everyday Errands
Indonesian — School, Work, Office, Tech & Professions
Indonesian — Top 32 Essential Everyday Action Verbs
Indonesian — Top 32 Essential Adjectives & Opposites
Indonesian — Feelings, Emotions, Personality & Hobbies
Ready to start practicing Bahasa Indonesia right now?
Spoken bynearly 300 million people across the 17,000 islands of the Indonesian archipelago—from Jakarta, Bali, and Yogyakarta to Sumatra, Sulawesi, and Lombok—Indonesian (Bahasa Indonesia) is widely recognized by linguists as one of the fastest, most accessible major languages in the world for English speakers to learn. Bonus: because Bahasa Indonesia and Malaysian (Bahasa Melayu) share the same Austronesian core, learning Indonesian also unlocks communication across Malaysia, Singapore, and Brunei!
Because Indonesian grammar doesn't bog you down with verb conjugation tables or gendered articles, your conversational fluency is directly proportional to how many high-frequency words and root families you know. In this visual study guide, we explain why Bahasa Indonesia is so learner-friendly, break down its noun-before-adjective modifier rule and high-yield prefixes (ber-, me-, di-, pe-), and walk you through all 15 Essential Thematic Indonesian Flashcard Decks (480 core words total) on Flashcards World.
Why Bahasa Indonesia Is One of the Fastest Languages in the World to Learn
1. Four Huge Head Starts for Beginners
- 100% Phonetic Latin Alphabet: Bahasa Indonesia uses the standard 26-letter Latin alphabet with zero silent letters and crystal-clear pronunciation rules:
- c is always pronounced like English ch in church (cepat = che-pat "fast", cuaca = chu-a-cha "weather").
- g is always a hard g as in go (guru = "teacher", gunung = "mountain").
- sy is pronounced sh (syarat), ny is like Spanish ñ (nyenyak "soundly asleep"), and ng is as in sing (siang "midday", bunga "flower").
- Zero Verb Conjugations: Verbs never change for I, you, he/she, we, or they, nor do they change for past, present, or future. Instead, you simply add a time word when needed:
- Saya makan nasi. (I eat rice.)
- Kemarin saya sudah makan nasi. (Yesterday I already ate rice — sudah marks completed action.)
- Sekarang saya sedang makan nasi. (Right now I am eating rice — sedang marks ongoing action.)
- Besok saya akan makan nasi. (Tomorrow I will eat rice — akan marks future action.)
- Zero Grammatical Gender & Zero Articles: There is no el/la or der/die/das, and even third-person "he" and "she" use the single gender-neutral pronoun dia.
- Zero Tones & Effortless Plurals: Unlike Mandarin, Vietnamese, or Thai, Indonesian has no lexical tones. Plurals are either understood from context/numbers (tiga kucing = "three cats") or formed by simple reduplication (anak "child" → anak-anak "children").
2. The Golden Word-Order Rule: Noun Before Modifier (Hukum DM)
In Indonesian grammar, known as Hukum DM (Diterangkan–Menerangkan), the main noun (the thing being described) always comes first, and the adjective, possessor, or modifier comes immediately after it:
| English Order (Modifier + Noun) | Bahasa Indonesia Order (Noun + Modifier) | Literal Breakdown |
|---|---|---|
| a big house | rumah besar | rumah (house) + besar (big) |
| cold water | air dingin | air (water) + dingin (cold) |
| hot coffee | kopi panas | kopi (coffee) + panas (hot) |
| my family | keluarga saya | keluarga (family) + saya (I / me) |
| fried rice | nasi goreng | nasi (cooked rice) + goreng (fried) |
| ** bedroom** | kamar tidur | kamar (room) + tidur (sleep) |
3. Unlocking Word Families with High-Yield Prefixes (ber-, me-, di-, pe-)
Indonesian builds rich vocabulary by attaching prefixes to simple root words (kata dasar). Once you recognize these four prefixes on your flashcards, every single root word you learn multiplies into 4 or 5 words automatically:
| Prefix | Core Function | Root Word Example | Derived Indonesian Words |
|---|---|---|---|
| ber- (bel- / be-) | Intransitive Verb / State ("to do" or "to have" something) | bicara (speech), kerja (work), jalan (road/walk), ajar (teach) | berbicara (to speak), bekerja (to work), berjalan (to walk), belajar (to study/learn) |
| meN- (me- / mem- / men- / meng- / meny-) | Active Transitive Verb (subject performs action on an object) | baca (read), beli (buy), lihat (see), masak (cook), tulis (write) | membaca (to read), membeli (to buy), melihat (to see), memasak (to cook), menulis (to write) |
| di- | Passive Verb ("is [verb]ed" — extremely common in daily Indonesian!) | buka (open), tutup (close), beli (buy), masak (cook) | dibuka (is opened), ditutup (is closed), dibeli (is bought), dimasak (is cooked) |
| peN- (pe- / pem- / pen- / peng-) | Agent / Person Noun ("one who does [root]") | baca (read), beli (buy), tulis (write), ajar (teach) | pembaca (reader), pembeli (buyer), penulis (writer), pelajar (student) |
The 15 Essential Thematic Indonesian Flashcard Decks (480 Core Words)
Each thematic deck below contains 32 carefully curated flashcards (15 decks × 32 cards = 480 core words & phrases). Study them interactively on Flashcards World.
Deck 1: Greetings, Polite Words & Everyday Phrases (32 Cards)
What this deck covers: Time-of-day greetings (Selamat pagi, Selamat siang, Selamat malam), polite requests (Tolong), expressions of gratitude (Terima kasih, Terima kasih banyak, Sama-sama), apologies (Permisi, Maaf), and everyday questions (Berapa harganya?). Why it matters: Notice how Indonesian greetings follow the sun: pagi (morning, ~5–11 AM), siang (midday, ~11 AM–3 PM), sore (late afternoon, ~3–6 PM), and malam (evening/night).
| Bahasa Indonesia Word / Phrase | Pronunciation Guide | Indonesian Example Sentence | English Meaning & Context |
|---|---|---|---|
| Halo | halo | Halo, bagaimana harimu hari ini? | Hello — Hello, how is your day? |
| Selamat pagi | selamat pagi | Selamat pagi, apakah tidurmu nyenyak? | Good morning — Good morning, did you sleep well? |
| Selamat siang | selamat siang | Selamat siang, selamat datang di toko kami. | Good afternoon — Good afternoon, welcome to our shop. |
| Selamat tidur | selamat tidur | Selamat tidur, semoga tidurmu nyenyak malam ini. | Good night — Good night, sleep well tonight. |
| Tolong | tolong | Tolong operkan air itu kepada saya. | Please — Please pass me the water. |
| Terima kasih | terima kasih | Terima kasih karena kamu sudah berbaik hati membantu saya. | Thank you — Thank you for your kind help. |
| Sama-sama | sama-sama | Sama-sama, senang bisa membantu. | You're welcome — You're welcome, happy to help you. |
| Permisi | permisi | Permisi, di mana pintu keluar? | Excuse me — Excuse me, where is the exit? |
| Senang bertemu denganmu | senang bertemu denganmu | Senang bertemu denganmu hari ini. | Nice to meet you — Nice to meet you today. |
| Berapa harganya? | berapa harganya? | Berapa harga kemeja ini? | How much is this? — How much does this shirt cost? |
👉 Practice Deck 1: Indonesian — Greetings, Polite Words & Everyday Phrases (32 Flashcards) →
Deck 2: Numbers, Days of the Week & Basic Time Expressions (32 Cards)
What this deck covers: Cardinal numbers (satu to seratus), the seven days of the week (Senin to Minggu), time expressions (hari ini, besok, kemarin), and asking the time (Jam berapa sekarang?). Why it matters: Indonesian numbers are 100% regular: once you know 1–10 (satu, dua, tiga, empat, lima, enam, tujuh, delapan, sembilan, sepuluh), adding belas forms 11–19 and adding puluh forms 20–90!
| Bahasa Indonesia Word / Phrase | Pronunciation Guide | Indonesian Example Sentence | English Meaning & Context |
|---|---|---|---|
| satu (1) | satu | Saya punya satu tiket untuk hari ini. | one (1) — I have one ticket for today. |
| sepuluh (10) | sepuluh | Buku ini harganya sepuluh dolar Amerika Serikat. | ten (10) — This book costs ten US dollars. |
| dua puluh (20) | dua puluh | Ada dua puluh siswa di sini. | twenty (20) — There are twenty students here. |
| seratus (100) | seratus | Buku ini tebalnya seratus halaman. | one hundred (100) — This book has one hundred pages. |
| hari Senin | hari senin | Saya mulai kerja hari Senin. | Monday — I start work on Monday. |
| hari Jumat | hari jumat | Kami pergi keluar pada Jumat malam. | Friday — We go out on Friday evening. |
| hari Minggu | hari minggu | Toko-toko tutup pada hari Minggu. | Sunday — Shops are closed on Sunday. |
| hari ini | hari ini | Cuaca hari ini cerah. | today — The weather is sunny today. |
| besok | besok | Besok saya terbang ke Roma. | tomorrow — I am flying to Rome tomorrow. |
| Jam berapa sekarang? | jam berapa sekarang? | Permisi, sekarang pukul berapa? | What time is it? — Excuse me, what time is it? |
👉 Practice Deck 2: Indonesian — Numbers, Days of the Week & Basic Time Expressions (32 Flashcards) →
Deck 3: Home, Rooms, Furniture & Everyday Objects (32 Cards)
What this deck covers: Rooms and living spaces (rumah, dapur, kamar tidur, kamar mandi), furniture (kursi, meja, tempat tidur, lampu), and household objects (pintu, kunci). Why it matters: Notice how compound nouns are formed with Noun + Modifier: kamar (room) + tidur (sleep) = kamar tidur (bedroom); kamar + mandi (bathe) = kamar mandi (bathroom); tempat (place) + tidur = tempat tidur (bed)!
| Bahasa Indonesia Word / Phrase | Pronunciation Guide | Indonesian Example Sentence | English Meaning & Context |
|---|---|---|---|
| rumah | rumah | Rumah kami memiliki atap merah. | house — Our house has a red roof. |
| dapur | dapur | Kami memasak makan malam di dapur. | kitchen — We cook dinner in the kitchen. |
| kamar tidur | kamar tidur | Kamar tidur itu tenang dan hangat. | bedroom — The bedroom is quiet and warm. |
| kamar mandi | kamar mandi | Saya mencuci tangan di kamar mandi. | bathroom — I wash my hands in the bathroom. |
| kursi | kursi | Silakan duduk di kursi ini. | chair — Please sit on this chair. |
| meja | meja | Hidangan makan malam ada di atas meja. | table — Dinner is on the table. |
| tempat tidur | tempat tidur | Kasur di tempat tidur ini empuk. | bed — This bed has a soft mattress. |
| lampu | lampu | Nyalakan lampu baca itu. | lamp — Turn on the reading lamp. |
| pintu | pintu | Tolong tutup pintu depan itu. | door — Please close the front door. |
| kunci | kunchi | Di mana saya menaruh kunci rumah saya? | key — Where did I put my house key? |
👉 Practice Deck 3: Indonesian — Home, Rooms, Furniture & Everyday Objects (32 Flashcards) →
Deck 4: Food, Drinks, Meals & Ordering at a Restaurant (32 Cards)
What this deck covers: Everyday foods and beverages (air, roti, kopi, teh, susu, nasi, ayam, ikan) and restaurant interactions (menu, tagihan / bon). Why it matters: Indonesian distinguishes the rice plant (padi), uncooked rice with the husk removed (beras), and cooked rice (nasi, as in nasi goreng).
| Bahasa Indonesia Word / Phrase | Pronunciation Guide | Indonesian Example Sentence | English Meaning & Context |
|---|---|---|---|
| air | air | Tolong segelas air putih dingin. | water — A glass of cold water, please. |
| roti | roti | Saya membeli roti segar setiap pagi. | bread — I buy fresh bread every morning. |
| kopi | kopi | Saya minum kopi hitam tanpa gula. | coffee — I drink black coffee without sugar. |
| teh | teh | Apakah Anda mau secangkir teh hijau? | tea — Would you like a cup of green tea? |
| susu | susu | Anak-anak minum susu hangat pada malam hari. | milk — Children drink warm milk at night. |
| nasi / beras | nasi / beras | Kami menyajikan nasi putih kukus dengan kari. | rice — We serve steamed white rice with curry. |
| ayam | ayam | Kami makan ayam panggang untuk makan malam. | chicken — We had roast chicken for dinner. |
| ikan | ikan | Ikan segar panggang dengan lemon. | fish — Grilled fresh fish with lemon. |
| daftar menu | daftar menu | Bolehkah kami melihat menunya? | menu — Could we see the menu, please? |
| tagihan / bon | tagihan / bon | Boleh kami minta tagihannya? | the bill — Could we have the bill, please? |
👉 Practice Deck 4: Indonesian — Food, Drinks, Meals & Ordering at a Restaurant (32 Flashcards) →
Deck 5: Fruits, Vegetables & Supermarket Groceries (32 Cards)
What this deck covers: Tropical and everyday fruits (apel, pisang, jeruk), fresh vegetables (tomat, kentang, wortel, bawang bombai, bawang putih), and pantry staples (minyak zaitun, madu). Why it matters: Look at how logical Indonesian compound words are: bawang (onion/allium) + putih (white) = bawang putih (garlic); bawang + merah (red) = shallots!
| Bahasa Indonesia Word / Phrase | Pronunciation Guide | Indonesian Example Sentence | English Meaning & Context |
|---|---|---|---|
| apel | apel | Apel merah ini manis dan renyah. | apple — This red apple is crisp and sweet. |
| pisang | pisang | Monyet sangat menyukai pisang kuning yang matang. | banana — Monkeys love ripe yellow bananas. |
| jeruk | jeruk | Kupas jeruk yang manis dan banyak airnya. | orange — Peel a juicy sweet orange. |
| tomat | tomat | Iris tomat merah yang matang untuk salad. | tomato — Slice a ripe red tomato for salad. |
| kentang | kentang | Kentang panggang dengan mentega dan herba. | potato — Baked potatoes with butter and herbs. |
| wortel | wortel | Wortel oranye yang renyah baik untuk mata. | carrot — Crunchy orange carrots are good for your eyes. |
| bawang bombai | bawang bombai | Cincang satu bawang bombai putih untuk sup. | onion — Chop a white onion for the soup. |
| bawang putih | bawang putih | Dua siung bawang putih menambah cita rasa yang kaya. | garlic — Two cloves of garlic add rich flavor. |
| minyak zaitun | minyak zaitun | Tuangkan sedikit minyak zaitun ekstra virgin di atas roti. | olive oil — Drizzle extra virgin olive oil on bread. |
| madu | madu | Lebah menghasilkan madu manis berwarna keemasan. | honey — Bees make sweet golden honey. |
👉 Practice Deck 5: Indonesian — Fruits, Vegetables & Supermarket Groceries (32 Flashcards) →
Deck 6: Family, People, Friends & Relationships (32 Cards)
What this deck covers: Core family members (keluarga, ibu, ayah, saudara laki-laki, saudara perempuan, anak laki-laki, anak perempuan, kakek) and social ties (teman, tetangga). Why it matters: In Indonesia, Ibu (Bu) and Bapak (Pak) are used not only for 'mother' and 'father', but also as polite titles ('Ma'am' / 'Sir') when addressing adults in daily life and business.
| Bahasa Indonesia Word / Phrase | Pronunciation Guide | Indonesian Example Sentence | English Meaning & Context |
|---|---|---|---|
| keluarga | keluarga | Keluarga saya tinggal di kota ini. | the family — My family lives in this city. |
| ibu | ibu | Ibu saya memasak makanan lezat setiap hari. | the mother — My mother cooks delicious food every day. |
| ayah | ayah | Ayah saya bekerja di rumah sakit setempat. | the father — My father works at a local hospital. |
| saudara laki-laki | saudara laki-laki | Saudara laki-laki saya bermain gitar dalam sebuah band. | the brother — My brother plays guitar in a band. |
| saudara perempuan | saudara perempuan | Saudara perempuan saya belajar kedokteran di universitas. | the sister — My sister studies medicine at the university. |
| putra | putra | Putra mereka sekarang bersekolah di sekolah dasar. | the son — Their son goes to primary school now. |
| putri | putri | Putri mereka suka menggambar gambar berwarna-warni. | the daughter — Their daughter loves drawing colorful pictures. |
| kakek | kakek | Kakek saya menceritakan kisah menarik setiap malam. | the grandfather — My grandfather tells great stories every evening. |
| teman | teman | Saya bertemu teman saya untuk minum kopi setiap hari Jumat. | the friend — I meet my friend for coffee on Fridays. |
| tetangga | tetangga | Tetangga kami menyiram tanaman kami saat kami bepergian. | the neighbor — Our neighbor waters our plants when we travel. |
👉 Practice Deck 6: Indonesian — Family, People, Friends & Relationships (32 Flashcards) →
Deck 7: Clothing, Shoes, Accessories & Colors (32 Cards)
What this deck covers: Clothing and footwear (kemeja, jaket, gaun, celana panjang, sepatu), accessories (kacamata), and core colors (merah, biru, hitam, putih). Why it matters: In these clothing phrases, descriptive words follow the noun: kemeja putih (white shirt), jaket hitam (black jacket), and sepatu baru (new shoes).
| Bahasa Indonesia Word / Phrase | Pronunciation Guide | Indonesian Example Sentence | English Meaning & Context |
|---|---|---|---|
| kemeja | kemeja | Dia memakai kemeja putih ke kantor. | the shirt — He wears a white shirt to the office. |
| jaket | jaket | Kenakan jaketmu sebelum keluar dari rumah. | the jacket — Put on your jacket before going outside. |
| gaun | gaun | Hari ini dia mengenakan gaun musim panas yang anggun. | the dress — She wears an elegant summer dress today. |
| celana panjang | chelana panjang | Celana panjang hitam ini sedikit terlalu panjang. | the trousers — These black trousers are slightly too long. |
| sepatu | sepatu | Lepaskan sepatu Anda di dekat pintu masuk. | the shoes — Take off your shoes at the entrance. |
| kacamata | kachamata | Saya memerlukan kacamata untuk membaca tulisan kecil. | the glasses — I need my glasses to read small print. |
| merah | merah | Dia membeli mobil sport berwarna merah terang. | red — She bought a bright red sports car. |
| biru | biru | Langit hari ini cerah dan berwarna biru terang. | blue — The sky is clear and bright blue today. |
| hitam | hitam | Dia minum kopi hitam tanpa gula. | black — He drinks black coffee without any sugar. |
| putih | putih | Salju putih yang baru turun menutupi seluruh desa itu. | white — Fresh white snow covered the entire village. |
👉 Practice Deck 7: Indonesian — Clothing, Shoes, Accessories & Colors (32 Flashcards) →
Deck 8: Body Parts, Health, Doctor & Pharmacy (32 Cards)
What this deck covers: Parts of the body (kepala, mata, tangan, jantung, lambung, punggung) and medical/pharmacy vocabulary (dokter, apotek, obat, demam). Why it matters: Essential for travelers visiting Bali, Jakarta, Yogyakarta, or Lombok who ever need to visit an apotek (pharmacy) or dokter.
| Bahasa Indonesia Word / Phrase | Pronunciation Guide | Indonesian Example Sentence | English Meaning & Context |
|---|---|---|---|
| kepala | kepala | Dia menganggukkan kepala tanda setuju. | the head — He nodded his head in agreement. |
| mata | mata | Dia memejamkan mata lalu tertidur. | the eye — She closed her eyes and fell asleep. |
| tangan | tangan | Cucilah tangan dengan sabun sebelum makan malam. | the hand — Wash your hands with soap before dinner. |
| jantung | jantung | Jantung saya berdetak cepat setelah berlari. | the heart — My heart beats fast after running. |
| lambung | lambung | Pada label tertulis bahwa obat ini tidak boleh diminum saat perut kosong. | the stomach — The label says not to take this medicine on an empty stomach. |
| punggung | punggung | Punggungnya terasa sakit saat mengangkat kotak berat. | the back — He hurt his back lifting a heavy box. |
| dokter | dokter | Dokter memeriksa pasien itu dengan teliti. | the doctor — The doctor examined the patient carefully. |
| apotek | apotek | Saya membeli sirop obat batuk di apotek. | the pharmacy — I bought cough syrup at the pharmacy. |
| obat | obat | Minumlah obat ini dengan segelas air. | the medicine — Take this medicine with a glass of water. |
| demam | demam | Dia beristirahat di kasur karena demam tinggi. | the fever — He stayed in bed because of a high fever. |
👉 Practice Deck 8: Indonesian — Body Parts, Health, Doctor & Pharmacy (32 Flashcards) →
Deck 9: Animals, Pets, Nature & Weather (32 Cards)
What this deck covers: Animals (anjing, kucing, burung, kuda), landscapes (pohon, sungai, laut, gunung), and weather words (matahari, hujan). Why it matters: Look at the poetic word for 'sun': matahari literally combines mata (eye) + hari (day) = 'the eye of the day'!
| Bahasa Indonesia Word / Phrase | Pronunciation Guide | Indonesian Example Sentence | English Meaning & Context |
|---|---|---|---|
| anjing | anjing | Anjing itu berlari gembira di taman. | the dog — The dog runs happily in the park. |
| kucing | kuching | Kucing itu tidur di atas sofa hangat. | the cat — The cat sleeps on the warm sofa. |
| burung | burung | Seekor burung kecil berkicau di pohon. | the bird — A small bird sings in the tree. |
| kuda | kuda | Kuda cokelat itu berlari kencang melintasi padang. | the horse — The brown horse gallops across the field. |
| pohon | pohon | Sebatang pohon ek tua tumbuh di halaman kami. | the tree — An old oak tree grows in our yard. |
| sungai | sungai | Jembatan batu itu melintasi sungai yang lebar. | the river — A stone bridge crosses the wide river. |
| laut | laut | Kami senang berenang di laut yang hangat. | the sea — We love swimming in the warm sea. |
| gunung | gunung | Salju menyelimuti puncak gunung yang tinggi. | the mountain — Snow covers the top of the high mountain. |
| matahari | matahari | Matahari terbit lebih awal pada musim panas. | the sun — The sun rises early in the summer. |
| hujan | hujan | Hujan deras turun sepanjang sore hari. | the rain — Heavy rain fell throughout the afternoon. |
👉 Practice Deck 9: Indonesian — Animals, Pets, Nature & Weather (32 Flashcards) →
Deck 10: Travel, Airport, Train, Hotel & Directions (32 Cards)
What this deck covers: Air travel (bandara, pesawat, paspor, koper), trains and tickets (kereta api, tiket), hotels (hotel, reservasi), and directions (belok kiri, belok kanan, jalan lurus). Why it matters: Notice how kereta api (train) literally means 'fire carriage' and bandara (airport) is a blend of bandar udara (air port).
| Bahasa Indonesia Word / Phrase | Pronunciation Guide | Indonesian Example Sentence | English Meaning & Context |
|---|---|---|---|
| bandara | bandara | Kami tiba di bandara dua jam lebih awal. | the airport — We arrived at the airport two hours early. |
| pesawat | pesawat | Pesawat terbang itu lepas landas tepat waktu. | the airplane — The airplane took off on time. |
| paspor | paspor | Tunjukkan paspor Anda di pemeriksaan imigrasi. | the passport — Show your passport at border control. |
| koper | koper | Koper yang berat ini memiliki empat roda. | the suitcase — This heavy suitcase has four wheels. |
| kereta api | kereta api | Kereta cepat berangkat dari jalur tiga. | the train — The fast train leaves from platform three. |
| tiket | tiket | Saya membeli tiket pulang pergi secara daring. | the ticket — I bought a round-trip ticket online. |
| hotel | hotel | Hotel kami menghadap ke alun-alun kota tua. | the hotel — Our hotel overlooks the old town square. |
| belok kiri | belok kiri | Belok kiri setelah melewati kantor pos. | turn left — Turn left after the post office. |
| belok kanan | belok kanan | Belok kanan di persimpangan yang kedua. | turn right — Turn right at the second intersection. |
| jalan lurus | jalan lurus | Jalan lurus ke depan sejauh dua blok. | go straight — Go straight ahead for two blocks. |
👉 Practice Deck 10: Indonesian — Travel, Airport, Train, Hotel & Directions (32 Flashcards) →
Deck 11: City Places, Shops, Money & Everyday Errands (32 Cards)
What this deck covers: City landmarks (kota, supermarket, pasar, bank, ATM, perpustakaan) and shopping/money vocabulary (uang, uang tunai, kartu kredit, struk). Why it matters: Look at how the circumfix per-...-an turns pustaka (book/literature) into perpustakaan (library)—a classic example of Indonesian affix power.
| Bahasa Indonesia Word / Phrase | Pronunciation Guide | Indonesian Example Sentence | English Meaning & Context |
|---|---|---|---|
| kota | kota | Kota ini sangat ramai. | city — This city is very lively. |
| supermarket | supermarket | Saya membeli makanan di supermarket. | supermarket — I buy food at the supermarket. |
| pasar | pasar | Pasar itu menjual buah segar. | market — The market sells fresh fruit. |
| bank | bank | Bank buka pukul sembilan. | bank — The bank opens at nine. |
| ATM | a-te-em | Saya perlu mengambil uang tunai dari ATM. | ATM — I need cash from the ATM. |
| perpustakaan | perpustakaan | Harap tenang di dalam perpustakaan. | library — Please be quiet in the library. |
| uang | uang | Dia menabung uang untuk perjalanannya. | money — She saves money for her trip. |
| uang tunai | uang tunai | Apakah Anda membayar dengan uang tunai hari ini? | cash — Are you paying in cash today? |
| kartu kredit | kartu kredit | Bisa bayar pakai kartu kredit? | credit card — Can I pay by credit card? |
| struk | struk | Tolong simpan struk kertas Anda. | receipt — Please keep your paper receipt. |
👉 Practice Deck 11: Indonesian — City Places, Shops, Money & Everyday Errands (32 Flashcards) →
Deck 12: School, Work, Office, Tech & Professions (32 Cards)
What this deck covers: Academic and office life (sekolah, universitas, buku, kantor, rapat), technology (komputer, telepon, email), and professions (guru, insinyur). Why it matters: Practice talking about school, meetings, computers, and everyday office tasks in Indonesian.
| Bahasa Indonesia Word / Phrase | Pronunciation Guide | Indonesian Example Sentence | English Meaning & Context |
|---|---|---|---|
| sekolah | sekolah | Sekolah dimulai pukul delapan. | school — School starts at eight. |
| universitas | universitas | Dia belajar hukum di universitas itu. | university — She studies law at the university. |
| buku | buku | Buku ini punya cerita bagus. | book — This book has a great story. |
| komputer | komputer | Komputer saya sangat cepat. | computer — My computer is very fast. |
| ponsel | ponsel | Di mana saya menaruh ponsel? | phone — Where did I put my phone? |
| surel | surel | Saya mengirim email kepadamu hari ini. | email — I sent you an email today. |
| kantor | kantor | Dia bekerja di kantor modern. | office — She works in a modern office. |
| rapat | rapat | Rapat pagi dimulai pukul sepuluh. | meeting — The morning meeting starts at ten. |
| guru | guru | Guru kami menjelaskan dengan jelas. | teacher — Our teacher explains things clearly. |
| insinyur | insinyur | Insinyur itu merancang jembatan ini. | engineer — The engineer designed this bridge. |
👉 Practice Deck 12: Indonesian — School, Work, Office, Tech & Professions (32 Flashcards) →
Deck 13: Top 32 Essential Everyday Action Verbs (32 Cards)
What this deck covers: Thirty-two everyday action and state expressions, including adalah, punya, pergi, datang, membuat, makan, minum, berbicara, melihat, membeli, and bekerja. Why it matters: Notice unprefixed verbs such as pergi and makan, ber- forms such as berbicara and bekerja, and meN- forms such as melihat and membeli. In Saya siap untuk mulai (“I am ready to start”), siap is an adjective and no adalah is needed.
| Bahasa Indonesia Word / Phrase | Pronunciation Guide | Indonesian Example Sentence | English Meaning & Context |
|---|---|---|---|
| adalah | adalah | Saya siap untuk mulai. | to be — I am ready to start. |
| punya | punya | Kami punya dua anjing kecil. | to have — We have two small dogs. |
| pergi | pergi | Saya berangkat kerja lebih awal. | to go — I go to work early. |
| datang | datang | Silakan datang ke pesta kami. | to come — Please come to our party. |
| makan | makan | Kami makan siang pada tengah hari. | to eat — We eat lunch at noon. |
| minum | minum | Minumlah banyak air dingin. | to drink — Drink plenty of cold water. |
| berbicara | berbicara (c as in “chair”) | Dia berbicara tiga bahasa dengan lancar. | to speak — She speaks three languages fluently. |
| melihat | melihat | Bisakah kamu melihat gunung-gunung itu? | to see — Can you see the mountains? |
| membeli | membeli | Saya ingin membeli roti segar. | to buy — I want to buy fresh bread. |
| bekerja | bekerja | Dia bekerja di rumah sakit. | to work — She works at a hospital. |
👉 Practice Deck 13: Indonesian — Top 32 Essential Everyday Action Verbs (32 Flashcards) →
Deck 14: Top 32 Essential Adjectives & Opposites (32 Cards)
What this deck covers: The 32 core Indonesian adjectives and opposites (besar / kecil, bagus, panas / dingin, cepat, mudah / sulit, murah / mahal). Why it matters: Practice common combinations such as rumah besar ('big house'), kopi panas ('hot coffee') and harga murah ('low price'). Use sangat ('very') with suitable words, as in sangat bagus and sangat mudah. Match the sense to the example: singkat describes a short duration, while kuat describes the coffee's flavor.
| Bahasa Indonesia Word / Phrase | Pronunciation Guide | Indonesian Example Sentence | English Meaning & Context |
|---|---|---|---|
| besar | besar | Mereka tinggal di rumah besar. | big — They live in a big house. |
| kecil | kechil | Tas kecil ini sangat praktis. | small — This small bag is handy. |
| bagus | bagus | Itu adalah ide yang sangat bagus. | good — That is a very good idea. |
| panas | panas | Hati-hati, sup ini panas. | hot — Careful, the soup is hot. |
| dingin | dingin | Angin musim dingin terasa dingin. | cold — The winter wind is cold. |
| cepat | chepat | Kereta ini sangat cepat. | fast — This train is very fast. |
| mudah | mudah | Pertanyaan pertama itu mudah. | easy — The first question is easy. |
| sulit | sulit | Mendaki gunung itu sulit. | difficult — Climbing that mountain is difficult. |
| murah | murah | Apel segar sekarang murah. | cheap — Fresh apples are cheap now. |
| mahal | mahal | Jam tangan emas itu mahal. | expensive — That gold watch is expensive. |
👉 Practice Deck 14: Indonesian — Top 32 Essential Adjectives & Opposites (32 Flashcards) →
Deck 15: Feelings, Emotions, Personality & Hobbies (32 Cards)
What this deck covers: Emotions (senang, sedih, lelah, tenang, bersemangat), character traits (baik hati, ramah), and hobbies (musik, membaca, memasak). Why it matters: Learn the complete verb forms baca → membaca (read) and masak → memasak (cook). These use forms of the general verb-forming prefix meN- and can name activities in context. Practice each form in a complete sentence.
| Bahasa Indonesia Word / Phrase | Pronunciation Guide | Indonesian Example Sentence | English Meaning & Context |
|---|---|---|---|
| senang | senang | Dia senang mendengar kabar itu. | happy — She is happy with the news. |
| sedih | sedih | Akhir film itu terasa sedih. | sad — The ending of the movie was sad. |
| lelah | lelah | Saya merasa lelah setelah berlari. | tired — I feel tired after running. |
| tenang | tenang | Laut biru itu sangat tenang. | calm — The blue sea is calm. |
| bersemangat | bersemangat | Anak-anak sangat bersemangat untuk bepergian. | excited — The kids are excited to travel. |
| baik hati | baik hati | Terima kasih atas kata-katamu yang baik. | kind — Thank you for your kind words. |
| ramah | ramah | Semua orang di klub itu ramah. | friendly — Everyone at the club is friendly. |
| musik | musik | Musik lembut terdengar di ruangan itu. | music — Soft music plays in the room. |
| membaca | membacha | Membaca dengan tenang membantu saya rileks. | reading — Quiet reading helps me relax. |
| memasak | memasak | Masakan rumahan rasanya paling enak. | cooking — Home cooking tastes the best. |
👉 Practice Deck 15: Indonesian — Feelings, Emotions, Personality & Hobbies (32 Flashcards) →
30-Day Spaced Repetition Study Schedule for Bahasa Indonesia (480 Core Words)
Because Indonesian has no verb conjugations or gender tables to slow you down, you can reach genuine A2/B1 conversational fluency in 30 days by studying 15 minutes a day on Flashcards World:
| Study Phase | Days | Target Decks | Daily Focus & Active Recall Technique |
|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1: Greetings, Time, Home & Dining | Days 1–7 | Decks 1–4 (Greetings, Numbers/Time, Home, Food & Warung Dining) | Study 20–32 new cards/day. Practice the four time-of-day greetings (pagi, siang, sore, malam) and Noun + Modifier compounds (air dingin, kopi hitam). |
| Week 2: Market Produce, Family, Clothing & Health | Days 8–14 | Decks 5–8 (Fruits/Veggies, Family, Clothing/Colors, Body & Health) | Clear your daily FSRS-4.5 Spaced Repetition review queue first, then add 1 new deck every 2 days. Notice how colors and possessives follow the noun (kemeja putih, keluarga saya). |
| Week 3: Nature, Travel, City & Work | Days 15–21 | Decks 9–12 (Animals/Weather, Travel/Directions, City/Money, School/Work) | Master high-utility travel phrases (belok kiri, belok kanan, jalan terus) and everyday urban vocabulary. |
| Week 4: Core Verbs, Adjectives & Emotions | Days 22–30 | Decks 13–15 (32 Action Verbs, 32 Adjectives & Opposites, Emotions & Hobbies) | Spot the root inside every ber- and meN- verb (belajar, bekerja, membaca, membeli, memasak) and test yourself in the English → Indonesian direction. |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About Learning Indonesian Vocabulary
How long does it take to learn Bahasa Indonesia for travel or daily conversation?
The U.S. Foreign Service Institute (FSI) classifies Indonesian as the fastest Asian language for English speakers to learn. Because the alphabet is phonetic and verbs never conjugate, mastering the 480 core words in these 15 decks over 30 days gives you enough vocabulary to handle hotels, restaurants, transport, shopping, and friendly daily conversations across Indonesia.
What is the difference between tidak and bukan for saying "no / not" in Indonesian?
- tidak negates verbs and adjectives: Saya tidak tahu ("I don't know"), Kopi ini tidak manis ("This coffee is not sweet").
- bukan negates nouns: Ini bukan kopi, ini teh ("This is not coffee, this is tea").
Should I use saya or aku for "I" in Indonesian?
Start with saya! Saya is polite, natural, and appropriate in every situation—whether speaking with hotel staff, taxi drivers, business colleagues, or new acquaintances. Aku (along with kamu for "you") is informal and used with close friends, peers, or family members. In formal situations, Indonesians often address people respectfully as Bapak / Pak ("Sir / Mr.") or Ibu / Bu ("Ma'am / Mrs.") rather than using a pronoun for "you."
Why do some root letters disappear when adding the prefix meN- (like tulis → menulis or sapu → menyapu)?
Indonesian uses a smooth phonetic assimilation rule called KPST nasalization: when the active prefix meN- attaches to a root starting with unvoiced consonants K, P, S, or T, that first consonant melts into its matching nasal sound so the word flows effortlessly off the tongue:
- K → meng-: kirim (send) → mengirim
- P → mem-: pakai (wear/use) → memakai
- S → meny-: sapu (sweep) → menyapu
- T → men-: tulis (write) → menulis
Start Practicing Bahasa Indonesia Today
Ready to start speaking Indonesian with confidence? Jump straight into our interactive flashcard decks: