Let’s Learn Some Indonesian Slang
Indonesian slang or commonly referred to as “bahasa gaul” (social language) is informal language that is widely spoken in Indonesia. The structures and vocabulary are different than those of standard formal Indonesian. It is used in daily conversations on a casual basis as the primary language medium. Indonesian slang is constantly changing, often so different from its standard formal Indonesian. Let’s learn some Indonesian slang.
The slang varies from city to city, often influenced by the local dialects. For example in Jakarta, it tends to be influenced by the English language or Batavian dialect (old name of “Jakarta” during the Dutch colonial period) or in Bandung, the slang contains vocabulary from the Sundanese language (dialect spoken in West Java). Although it’s widely used in daily conversations, it’s uncommon to find Indonesian slang in formal texts such as national newspapers, magazines and other formal correspondences which emphasize on the usage of “good and correct” Indonesian (“Bahasa Indonesia yang baik dan benar”).
Below we will learn some of the slang we often use in daily conversations. Click on the image below.