No verb tenses
Verbs don't change: saya makan is I eat or I ate. Time words do the work: saya sudah makan (I've already eaten), saya akan makan (I will eat).
Indonesian course · 27 languages in one app
Learn Indonesian by speaking it
Indonesian may be the friendliest language to start speaking: no verb conjugations, no genders, and spelling that matches the sound. Talvo gets you ordering at a warung and chatting with new friends from your first lessons.
First lesson free · iPhone and Mac, one subscription
Indonesian · First phrasesApa kabar?
AH-pah KAH-bar
How are you?
SellerMau pesan apa?What would you like to order?
Your first Indonesian phrases
Twelve phrases for warungs, shops and meeting people, with a guide to how they sound.
| Indonesian | Say it like | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Halo! / Selamat pagi! | HAH-loh / suh-LAH-maht PAH-gee | Hello! / Good morning! |
| Apa kabar? | AH-pah KAH-bar | How are you? |
| Baik, terima kasih. | BAH-eek, tuh-REE-mah KAH-see | Fine, thank you. |
| Nama saya Sam. | NAH-mah SAH-yah sam | My name is Sam. |
| Senang bertemu Anda. | suh-NAHNG ber-tuh-MOO AHN-dah | Nice to meet you. |
| Kopi satu, ya. | KOH-pee SAH-too, yah | One coffee, please. |
| Berapa harganya? | buh-RAH-pah har-GAH-nyah | How much is it? |
| Minta bonnya. | MIN-tah BON-nyah | The check, please. |
| Toilet di mana? | TOY-let dee MAH-nah | Where's the restroom? |
| Saya tidak mengerti. | SAH-yah TEE-dahk muh-NGER-tee | I don't understand. |
| Bisa bicara lebih pelan? | BEE-sah bee-CHAH-rah luh-BEE puh-LAHN | Can you speak more slowly? |
| Terima kasih banyak! | tuh-REE-mah KAH-see BAH-nyahk | Thank you very much! |
Indonesian is spelled the way it sounds. c is always ch, e is often a short uh, and stress is light, so don't worry about it too much.
A conversation you'll practice
Dinner at a warung, a small family-run eatery, in Jakarta. The tutor plays the seller.
SellerMau pesan apa?What would you like to order?
YouNasi goreng satu dan es teh manis.One fried rice and a sweet iced tea.
SellerPedas atau tidak?Spicy or not?
YouSedikit pedas saja.Just a little spicy.
SellerSemuanya tiga puluh lima ribu.That's thirty-five thousand altogether.
Mistakes Talvo helps you fix
Plurals by doubling
Buku is book and buku-buku is books, but when a number makes it clear you don't double: dua buku (two books).
Anda, kamu, Bapak and Ibu
Anda is the polite you and kamu is for friends. With older people it's common to say Bapak (sir) or Ibu (madam) instead.
Pronunciation is predictable
Every letter is said, and c is always ch: cantik (pretty) is CHAHN-teek. The r is lightly rolled.
How Talvo teaches Indonesian
- Tap Replay or Slowly on any line the tutor says, and Show translation when you need it
- Every unit, from beginner (A1) to advanced (C1), is written around your interests and the words you already know
- Role-play a café, a market, a taxi or meeting someone new. The tutor speaks first, waits for your answer and corrects you with the reason
- Use the live interpreter when you're talking with a native speaker for real
- Every new word goes into your review deck and comes back right before you'd forget it
Questions about learning Indonesian
Is Indonesian the same as Malay?
They're closely related and largely understandable to each other's speakers, with differences in vocabulary and spelling. Talvo teaches standard Indonesian.
Can I learn Indonesian with Talvo for free?
Yes, to start. Your first lesson, three live-interpreter exchanges, your reviews and your deck are free. Talvo Pro unlocks unlimited lessons and conversations, and the yearly plan starts with a 7-day free trial.
How is Talvo different from Duolingo?
Duolingo is built around short tap-and-match exercises and daily streaks. Talvo is built around speaking: lessons written around your interests, a tutor you talk to out loud, and a live interpreter for real conversations. Plenty of learners use both.
Can I use Talvo on my Mac?
Yes. Talvo is a native app for iPhone and Mac, and one subscription covers both.
More language guides
Say your first Indonesian sentence today.
The first lesson is free. It takes about five minutes.