Indonesia Language: What Do They Speak in Indonesia?
The official language of Indonesia is Indonesian. In Indonesian, the country is called Indonesia. Indonesian is used in government, education, media and everyday life across the country.
🗣️ Language at a Glance
About the Indonesian Language
In the 1928 Youth Pledge, Indonesia's independence movement chose Malay, then the mother tongue of only a small minority, as the future national language precisely because it favoured no dominant ethnic group; Javanese had far more speakers but was passed over. Official since independence in 1945, Indonesian now unites a country of 17,000 islands, with vocabulary absorbed from Sanskrit, Arabic, Dutch, Portuguese and English. Indonesian is a standardised form of Malay, and remains mutually intelligible with Malaysia's Bahasa Melayu apart from divergent loanwords. It belongs to the vast Austronesian family, spread by ancient seafarers from Madagascar to Hawaii and Easter Island, making it a relative of Javanese, Tagalog, Malagasy and Maori.
The Latin alphabet: How Indonesian is Written
Indonesian is written in the plain 26-letter Latin alphabet with no diacritics at all, and its spelling, standardised in 1972, is almost perfectly phonetic. Of all the major Asian languages it is probably the easiest for English speakers to read aloud accurately on the first day.
Is Indonesian a Tonal Language?
No, Indonesian is not a tonal language. Stress is light and even, and pronunciation holds few surprises for English speakers.
🗨️ Useful Indonesian Phrases
A few everyday phrases in Indonesian, written in a simple romanized pronunciation so you can read them aloud. Tones and exact sounds vary by region, so treat these as a starting point.
How Hard is Indonesian to Learn?
Indonesian is widely considered the most approachable major Asian language for English speakers, rated at around 900 class hours by the US Foreign Service Institute. There are no tones, no conjugations, no grammatical gender and no plural endings (plurals just double the word: buku is book, buku-buku is books). Complexity appears later, in the prefix and suffix system and in levels of formality.
Language Tips for Visitors to Indonesia
The official language of Indonesia is Indonesian, which may be unfamiliar to many international travellers. While English speakers can often be found in larger cities and tourist-heavy areas, it is advisable to learn a few basic phrases before your trip. Locals greatly appreciate any effort to use the local language, even if imperfect. Simple greetings, thank-yous and asking for directions in Indonesian will go a long way. The country is officially known as Indonesia in Indonesian, and the international dialling code is +62.
Frequently Asked Questions about Language in Indonesia
What language do they speak in Indonesia?
The official language of Indonesia is Indonesian.
Is English spoken in Indonesia?
English is not an official language in Indonesia. The main language is Indonesian. English may be spoken in tourist areas.
What is Indonesia called in its own language?
Indonesia is called "Indonesia" in Indonesian.
What writing system does Indonesian use?
Indonesian is written in the Latin alphabet. Indonesian is written in the plain 26-letter Latin alphabet with no diacritics at all, and its spelling, standardised in 1972, is almost perfectly phonetic. Of all the major Asian languages it is probably the easiest for English speakers to read aloud accurately on the first day.
Is Indonesian a tonal language?
No, Indonesian is not a tonal language. Stress is light and even, and pronunciation holds few surprises for English speakers.
How do you say hello in Indonesian?
"Hello" in Indonesian is "halo / selamat pagi".
Is Indonesian hard to learn?
Indonesian is widely considered the most approachable major Asian language for English speakers, rated at around 900 class hours by the US Foreign Service Institute. There are no tones, no conjugations, no grammatical gender and no plural endings (plurals just double the word: buku is book, buku-buku is books). Complexity appears later, in the prefix and suffix system and in levels of formality.
How many official languages does Indonesia have?
Indonesia has one official language: Indonesian.
Do I need to speak Indonesian to visit Indonesia?
It is not required but learning basic phrases in Indonesian is strongly recommended and appreciated.
What is the calling code for Indonesia?
The international dialling code for Indonesia is +62.
What is the population of Indonesia?
Indonesia has a population of approximately 277M, all of whom use Indonesian as the official language.