Q&A for How to Learn Indonesian

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  • Question
    How do I ask someone to please leave me alone in Bahasa Indonesia?
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    You can say "Biarkan saya sendiri!" or "Tinggalkan saya sendiri!" You could also say "berhenti," which simply means "stop." If the person is really bothering you, try "pergi sana," which means "go away."
  • Question
    How do I write "girl" in Bahasa?
    Simon Harms
    Community Answer
    Either cewek, perempuan or wanita is good. Cewek is slang. Perempuan is formal. Wanita is woman.
  • Question
    How do I count from 1 to 10 in Indonesian?
    Community Answer
    1 (satu), 2 (dua), 3 (tiga), 4 (empat), 5 (lima), 6 (enam), 7 (tujuh), 8 (delapan), 9 (sembilan), 10 (sepuluh).
  • Question
    How do I learn Indonesian as quickly as possible?
    Community Answer
    You can learn it by watching Indonesia movies with subtitles in your language, then Bahasa. Using your language will help you to understand what they're saying, and using Bahasa will help you to pronounce the words. Speak it as much as possible with friends, ideally those who are more fluent in it than you and can correct your mistakes.
  • Question
    How do I write to a female in Bahasa?
    Simon Harms
    Community Answer
    You also need to know her age and whether or not she is married because it changes the way you talk to her. For example; "Saya mempunyai 2 teman wanita." - I have 2 friends that are women. - For talking to someone older than you if they are married or not. "Gue ada 2 teman cewek" - I have 2 friends that are girls - for talking to someone younger than you if they are or aren't married. "Ibu, saya tidak mengerti" - Ibu, I don't understand - For someone that is older than you and married. "Mbak, aku nggak ngerti" - Mbak, I don't understand - For someone that is younger and not married.
  • Question
    How do I address a lady?
    Community Answer
    If you want to say "you": formally: anda; semi-formal: kamu; informal: elu. If you want to refer the lady as "she": dia.
  • Question
    Where can I find Indonesian movies or clips with subtitles?
    Community Answer
    YouTube is the most common source. Netflix also has some Indonesian movies with subtitles.
  • Question
    How do I say "I like you" in Indonesian?
    Community Answer
    "I like you" in Indonesian is "Saya menyukai Anda" or "Aku suka kamu". Use "Saya menyukai Anda" when talking to someone older than you. "Aku suka kamu" is commonly used when talking to someone younger than you.
  • Question
    What European countries have the most Indonesians?
    Community Answer
    The Netherlands. Post-colonialism, many Indonesians live abroad and the majority in Europe are in the Netherlands.
  • Question
    What does "belanda" mean?
    amin tr
    Community Answer
    Belanda means the Netherlands or Dutch. Bahasa Indonesia (Indonesian Language) doesn't have a specific word for the people of a country. So, Belanda is used to express the country of the Netherlands or the Dutch people. To make it formal and clear, you may say: orang Belanda (man of the Netherlands) to express Dutch. In the common or funny conversation in wider Indonesian, all white skin foreigners may called Belanda, or used as slang; Londo or sometime Bule (white man). This expression was influenced by Dutch colonialism in Indonesia during the 16th-19th century, more or less 350 years ago.
  • Question
    Do Indonesian people usually have European names?
    Community Answer
    No, they don't. Indonesian names are unique and based on tribe or race's background. For example, someone by the name "Sujarwo" represents the Java tribe, or "Ningsih" represents the Sundanese tribe.
  • Question
    Where can I find Indonesian movies to learn Indonesian?
    Community Answer
    Netflix has some Indonesian movies. But if you want it to be free (without subscription like Netflix) you can use IFLIX. Some of the movies there are Indonesian and they will have English subtitles.
  • Question
    Can it be spoken if I'm travelling to Malaysia?
    Rainy
    Top Answerer
    Malay (also known as Bahasa Malaysia) is very similar to Indonesian, but they are different languages. The Malaysians will probably understand most of what you're saying if you speak Indonesian, but if you're only learning the language for your trip, study Malay instead.
  • Question
    How do I know where to use "yang", "bahwa" or "kalau" for the word "that" in Bahasa Indonesia?
    Rainy
    Top Answerer
    Yang means "which is" or "who is". For example: Yang pakai kaus merah, silakan berdiri (the person with the red shirt, please stand up) / Jus yang oranye itu dari jeruk! (juice that is orange is from an orange [fruit]!). Bahwa is "that". For example: Aku tahu bahwa kamu bahahia (I know that you are happy). Kalau means "if". Kalau kamu masak nasi, aku mau makannya (if you cook rice, I want to eat it). I'm not a native speaker so take this with a grain of salt, but it's correct to the best of my understanding! :)
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