Pedas / Tidak Pedas
Spicy / Not Spicy
This might be the most important food phrase! Indonesian food can be very spicy. 'Tidak' means 'not' — use it to tone down the heat!
Learn to say "Spicy" and "Not Spicy" in Indonesian with "Pedas" and "Tidak Pedas." This critical food vocabulary in Bahasa Indonesia will save you from unexpected heat in Indonesian cuisine, which is known for its bold use of chili peppers.
💬Example Sentences
Apakah ini pedas?
Is this spicy?
Tolong tidak pedas, ya.
Please not spicy, okay.
Saya suka pedas sedikit.
I like a little bit spicy.
🏭Cultural Context
Spiciness is central to Indonesian cuisine. Sambal, a chili paste condiment, appears on virtually every table and comes in hundreds of regional varieties. What Indonesians consider "tidak pedas" (not spicy) can still be quite hot by Western standards, so if you really cannot handle spice, you might say "tidak pakai sambal" (without sambal) or "tidak pedas sama sekali" (not spicy at all). Different regions have different heat levels — Padang food from West Sumatra and Manado food from North Sulawesi are famously fiery, while Javanese food tends to be sweeter. Indonesians are usually very understanding when foreigners struggle with spice and will happily adjust the heat level.