Discover Indonesia through its language: Is this the easiest language in the world?

Indonesia is the world's largest archipelago: more than 17,000 islands, an overwhelming cultural richness, and breathtaking biodiversity. Its language, Indonesian, is spoken by more than 285 million people. In addition, more than 700 local languages coexist. However, Indonesian, as the official language, connects people who speak different languages and is used in classrooms, official activities, politics, and the media.

Indonesian uses the Latin alphabet for writing and its vocabulary has been influenced by cultural exchange with other nations, so in this language there are words taken from Arabic, Chinese, English, Dutch, Portuguese, among others.

However, Indonesian is the thread that unites this incredible diversity. As a Latin American traveler, learning it will open doors that no tour guide can offer.

Mount Bromo

What is Indonesian and why is it so easy to learn?

Indonesian is the standardized version of Malay, the historical lingua franca of Southeast Asia. It belongs to the Austronesian language family, which extends from the Philippines (Tagalog) to New Zealand (Māori). Its grammar is a boon to students of this language, since, unlike in our language, verbs do not have to be conjugated according to the subject of the sentence or the tense in which it was uttered. For example:

Makan : to eat

Saya makan nasi → I eat rice.

Dia makan nasi → He/She eats rice.

Kemarin mereka makan nasi → Yesterday they ate rice ( kemarin = yesterday).

For the past, you only need one magic word: sudah ("ya").

Saya sudah makan → I already ate.

And for what has not yet happened: belum ("not yet").

Dia belum makan → She hasn't eaten yet.

For the future: akan ("I will") or the super-versatile mau ("I want/I will"):

Saya mau ke Bali → I'm going to Bali.

Furthermore, Indonesian is supposedly the language phonetically most similar to Spanish, so if you come across a word in Indonesian, trust your instincts and pronounce it as you would in Spanish. For example, if you see "kopi," it's pronounced "copi" (coffee). "Teman" sounds like "teman" (friend).

Sumatra Island

A Language with Cross-Border Reach

Indonesian is the official language of Indonesia, spoken by over 270 million people. While most people first speak a local language—such as Sundanese in West Java or Hokkien in Chinese communities—Indonesian is the common language in education, government, and even on Instagram. Its influence crosses borders: in Malaysia, Singapore, or Brunei, you'll be perfectly understood. If you plan to explore Southeast Asia, Indonesian will be more useful than you might imagine.

Historical Legacy

There's a fascinating fact. The root of Indonesian is Malay, which for centuries was the language of trade in ports like Malacca (now Malaysia). Ships from India, Arabia, China, and Europe used it to negotiate. That's why modern Indonesian is full of loanwords.

From Sanskrit: bumi (earth), warna (color).

From Arabic: kabar (news), dunia (world).

From Dutch: kantor (office, from the Dutch kantoor).

Even from Spanish! Mesa is said meja and cuchillo is pisau (from the Portuguese pessoa ).

This makes it strangely familiar to Latinos.

Essential phrases:

Halo → Hello.

Selamat pagi → Good morning (until 10 am).

Selamat siang → Good midday (10 am to 3 pm).

Selamat sore → Good afternoon (3 pm to 6 pm).

Apa kabar? → How are you? Answer: Baik-baik saja! (Everything's fine!).

Terima kasih → Thank you. Pronounce "térima kasij" to sound like a local.

Terima kasih banyak → Thank you very much. Add banyak for emphasis!

Shopping and Markets: Master the Numbers Now!

Indonesian Rupiah

Here's one of the filters for savvy travelers: the art of understanding prices. In Indonesia, the currency is the rupiah (IDR), and it sounds like huge numbers. A bottle of water costs 5,000 Rp, not 5. So remember :

In Indonesia, the value of goods and services is expressed in thousands of rupiah due to the high face value of the currency. For practicality and context, in informal situations such as markets or negotiations, vendors often omit the word "ribu" (thousand) . However, this is just a colloquial abbreviation. For example, if a vendor says "tiga puluh" (thirty), it is understood that they mean "tiga puluh ribu" (30,000 rupiah). To avoid confusion, it is always advisable to confirm the full price by asking: "[number] ribu?" ([number] thousand?).

Berapa harganya? → How much does this cost?
He even points and says: Berapa? → How much?

How to order food?

Nasi goreng

Tidying up is a whole ritual. Rice ( nasi ) is sacred. Don't leave without these phrases:

Saya mau pesan... → I want to order... ( Saya mau pesan nasi goreng = I want to order fried rice).

Pedas? → Spicy? (If you eat spicy food, add tidak pedas! = not spicy!).

Enak sekali! → Very delicious! (the best compliment for a cook).

Did you know that satay (skewered meat) comes from "satay" and rendang is a UNESCO World Heritage Site? Never choose "Western cuisine." Order local!

Rendang

Is it worth learning this if I'm only going for a few days?

The answer is a resounding yes . Indonesians greatly value foreigners who try to learn their language. They'll offer you more help, better prices, and genuine smiles. A simple "terima kasih" or " permisi " (permission) determines whether you remain a "tourist" or become a "guest."

As a Latin American traveler, you're already a master of human warmth. With these phrases, you'll take that connection to another level. Indonesian culture isn't found on beaches or in temples, but in the people themselves.
Selamat jalan!
(Have a good trip!)