Word lists
The 1,500 most common Indonesian words, by level and theme
Pick a level or a theme and practise with flashcards. Every word is shown in Bahasa Indonesia with its English translation — and whenever Bahasa Melayu uses a different word, the Malaysian equivalent too.
Beginner 550 words · 19 themes The 550 words you need first: greetings, numbers, food, travel and everyday verbs. Intermediate 550 words · 14 themes 550 words for work, society and daily life, plus the me-/ber-/pe-/ke-an word patterns. Advanced 400 words · 8 themes 400 formal-register words from news, business, politics and science. 🇮🇩 vs 🇲🇾 Indonesian vs Malay 683 words differ All the words where Malaysia uses a different word than Indonesia, side by side.
Beginner 550 words
Greetings & politeness Hello, thank you, sorry and the polite phrases you use every day. 31 Pronouns & question words I, you, we, this, that and the words you need to ask a question. 31 Numbers & quantities Count in Indonesian and talk about how much and how many. 31 Time & calendar Days, months, today, tomorrow and other time words. 31 Family & people Family members and the words for people around you. 31 Body & health Parts of the body and basic health vocabulary. 31 Food & drink Dishes, ingredients, fruit and drinks from Indonesia and Malaysia. 31 Home & daily life Rooms, furniture and everyday objects at home. 31 Clothing & shopping Clothes, prices and words for the market and the shop. 25 Travel & transport Getting around: tickets, vehicles and travel words. 31 Place & direction Left, right, inside, outside and other position words. 31 Nature & weather Sun, rain, sea, mountains and the tropical weather. 26 Animals Common animals in Indonesia and Malaysia. 20 Work & education Jobs, school and study words for beginners. 32 Everyday verbs The verbs you use most: to eat, to go, to want, to have. 32 Adjectives Big, small, good, cheap: describing words to build sentences. 32 Adverbs, conjunctions & particles Very, already, but, because and the little words that hold a sentence together. 32 Emotions & character Happy, tired, kind, lazy: feelings and character traits. 26 Colours & shapes The main colours and basic shapes. 15
Intermediate 550 words
Verbs with prefixes (me-/ber-) Common verbs with the me- and ber- prefixes, the heart of Indonesian grammar. 39 Word formation: nouns (pe-/ke-an/-an) Nouns built with pe-, ke-an and -an, so you recognise word families. 39 Health & body (in depth) Symptoms, medicine and talking to a doctor. 39 Work & office Meetings, colleagues, contracts and office life. 39 Education & language Studying, exams, grammar and talking about languages. 39 Technology & media Phones, internet, apps and the media. 39 Society & government Citizens, rules, offices and public life. 39 Emotions & opinions Expressing how you feel and what you think. 39 Descriptions & comparison Describing things and comparing them: more, less, the most. 39 Connectors & structure Although, therefore, in order to: words that structure longer sentences. 39 Everyday situations Useful words for daily errands and situations. 40 Living & surroundings Housing, the neighbourhood and the city around you. 40 Food & cooking (in depth) Cooking verbs, tastes, spices and kitchen words. 40 Travel & activities Hotels, sights, sports and things to do. 40
Advanced 400 words
Formal verbs (memper-/-kan/-i) Verbs with memper-, -kan and -i as used in news, work and formal writing. 50 Abstract concepts Ideas, values, reasons and other abstract nouns. 50 Economy & business Trade, finance, companies and the economy. 50 Politics, law & government Elections, laws, courts and government. 50 Science, environment & health Research, climate, nature conservation and public health. 50 Media, culture & communication Press, arts, traditions and communication. 50 Formal adverbs & connectors Furthermore, nevertheless, in accordance with: the register of formal Indonesian. 50 Verbs & adjectives (formal register) Formal verbs and adjectives you meet in newspapers and official texts. 50