Translate Indonesian to English
Indonesian text appears in e-commerce listings from Tokopedia and Shopee, business correspondence from Jakarta, government documents, news from Kompas and Detik, and personal messages. Indonesian uses the Latin alphabet with no special characters, making it visually accessible. Paste your text above.
Common Indonesian to English translations
| Indonesian | English | Pronunciation | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Halo | Hello | HAH-loh | ||
| Selamat pagi | Good morning | seh-LAH-maht PAH-gee | ||
| Terima kasih | Thank you | teh-REE-mah KAH-see | ||
| Tolong | Please | TOH-long | ||
| Berapa harganya? | How much is this? | beh-RAH-pah har-GAH-nyah | ||
| Di mana kamar mandi? | Where is the bathroom? | dee MAH-nah KAH-mar MAHN-dee | ||
| Saya tidak mengerti | I do not understand | SAH-yah TEE-dahk meng-ER-tee | ||
| Bisakah Anda membantu saya? | Can you help me? | BEE-sah-kah AHN-dah mem-BAHN-too SAH-yah | ||
| Saya mau kopi | I would like coffee | SAH-yah MOW KOH-pee | ||
| Minta bon | The bill, please | MEEN-tah bohn | ||
| Senang berkenalan | Nice to meet you | seh-NAHNG ber-keh-NAH-lahn | ||
| Selamat tinggal | Goodbye | seh-LAH-maht TING-gahl | ||
| Saya butuh dokter | I need a doctor | SAH-yah BOO-tooh DOK-ter | ||
| Permisi | Excuse me | per-MEE-see |
Tips for Indonesian to English translation
Indonesian has a passive voice formed by the prefix di-: dimakan (was eaten), ditulis (was written). This passive is used much more frequently than in English. Translators typically convert to active voice when it reads more naturally.
Indonesian pronouns vary by formality: saya (I, formal), aku (I, informal), gue/gw (I, Jakarta slang). Anda (you, formal), kamu (you, informal). Both sets translate to simple “I” and “you” in English.
Indonesian text from Jakarta may include heavy Betawi dialect or slang that differs from standard Bahasa Indonesia. The translator handles standard Indonesian best.
Indonesian reduplication (doubling a word) can indicate plural, variety, or emphasis: anak-anak (children), sayur-mayur (various vegetables). Translators handle these constructions correctly.
About the Indonesian language
Indonesian belongs to the Austronesian language family, the same family as Malay, Tagalog, and Hawaiian. It was deliberately chosen as the national language of Indonesia in 1945 because Malay was already widely used as a trade language across the archipelago, and choosing it over Javanese (the most spoken local language) avoided favoring one ethnic group.
Indonesia is the fourth most populous country in the world with over 270 million people across 17,000 islands. It has the largest economy in Southeast Asia and is a member of the G20. Indonesian culture is extraordinarily diverse, encompassing Javanese gamelan music, Balinese dance, Sumatran cuisine, and hundreds of distinct ethnic groups each with their own local languages.
Frequently asked questions
Yes. Unlimited.
Standard Indonesian works best. Jakarta slang may be less precise.
Yes.
Very similar results. Both standards are processed well.
Good for everyday texts. Professional review for official documents.
This translator handles Indonesian only. Javanese is a separate language.
Visit our English to Indonesian page.
No.
Latin alphabet, phonetic spelling, and simple word structure make it visually accessible.
Over 60 pairs available.
Looking for the reverse? Try English to Indonesian translation.
