Articles
Tips, culture, and insights for learning Indonesian
Indonesian Drinking Culture: From Teh Manis to Bintang Beer — What to Order and How
Indonesia's drink culture goes way beyond coffee. From teh manis (sweet tea) to es jeruk (iced orange) to Bintang beer —...
Apr 4, 2026
How to Compliment Someone in Indonesian (And Why It Matters So Much)
Compliments are social currency in Indonesia. Learn to say 'enak sekali' (delicious!), 'bagus' (great), 'cantik' (beauti...
Apr 4, 2026
Indonesian Holidays and Celebrations: What to Say During Lebaran, Nyepi, and Christmas
Indonesia celebrates Muslim, Hindu, Christian, and Buddhist holidays — often all in the same neighborhood. Learn the gre...
Apr 4, 2026
Indonesian for Parents: Traveling With Kids and the Phrases You'll Need Every Day
Traveling Indonesia with children? Indonesians adore kids — and knowing the right phrases for food, safety, and daily ne...
Apr 4, 2026
Vegetarian and Vegan in Indonesia: How to Eat Plant-Based Without Starving
Being vegetarian or vegan in Indonesia is totally doable — if you know the right phrases. Learn to say 'saya tidak makan...
Apr 4, 2026
Indonesian Texting Slang: What LOL, OMG, and BRB Look Like in Bahasa Indonesia
Indonesians text differently. 'Wkwk' is LOL, 'gpp' means 'no problem,' and 'otw' is borrowed straight from English. Deco...
Apr 4, 2026
Aku vs Saya, Kamu vs Anda: The Pronoun Minefield Every Indonesian Learner Must Navigate
Indonesian has multiple words for 'I' and 'you' — and using the wrong one can sound rude, overly formal, or weirdly inti...
Apr 4, 2026
Silakan Duduk, Silakan Makan: The Indonesian Art of Hospitality in 6 Words
Indonesian hospitality revolves around the word 'silakan' — please, go ahead. From 'silakan masuk' (please come in) to '...
Apr 4, 2026
The Indonesian Suffix System: How '-Kan' and '-An' Create New Words from Old Ones
Indonesian suffixes '-kan' and '-an' turn simple root words into commands, results, and abstract nouns. Learn how 'bersi...
Apr 4, 2026
Island Hopping Indonesia: Travel Phrases for Boats, Ferries, and Flights
Indonesia has 17,000+ islands. Learn the essential Indonesian travel vocabulary for inter-island boats, ferries, and dom...
Apr 3, 2026
How to Learn Indonesian Through Music, TikTok, and Pop Culture
Speed up your Indonesian learning with music, TikTok, YouTube, and pop culture. The most fun homework you'll ever have.
Apr 3, 2026
Indonesian vs Malay: Same Language or Different?
Indonesian and Malay share roots but have diverged. Learn where they overlap, where they differ, and whether learning In...
Apr 3, 2026
Everything here, organised and in your pocket.
These articles are the scattered version. The book walks the same ground in order — 16 chapters that take you from your first greeting to holding a real conversation.
- ✓16 chapters, from first greeting to real conversation
- ✓Written for English speakers — no linguistic jargon
- ✓Cultural context so you know when and why to say it
Read on Kindle, tablet, phone, or browser