Learn Indonesian
Learn Indonesian fast with an app that gets you speaking in minutes. Build the confidence to chat with family and friends across Indonesia, or get by easily on your travels through Bali and beyond.
Get Started
Trusted by language learners at
Learn to speak Indonesian like a local
Many people start learning Indonesian, or bahasa Indonesia, to connect with family or because they are working or travelling in Indonesia. But many beginner courses focus heavily on grammar before you start speaking, instead of introducing practical Indonesian basics from day one.
uTalk is the solution. We'll help you avoid:
- Getting stuck on Indonesian grammar rules before learning a single useful phrase
- Not knowing how to pronounce everyday words
- Losing confidence because you can't follow basic conversations
Learn Indonesian online today and start holding your own in everyday exchanges with people you meet.
Get Started
Three steps to learn Indonesian fast
No classes to schedule. No confusing jargon. Just a clear path to learning Indonesian.
Start in minutes
Subscribe now, download the app or open the web app. Choose Indonesian and select your first category.
Get StartedPractise real phrases
Work through short lessons with native speaker audio and memory-boosting games. Reviews focus on the words and phrases you find hardest, so you learn faster.
Speak like a local
Try your Indonesian in real life. Beginners and more experienced learners can build practical spoken language and start enjoying real conversations across Indonesia.
Why uTalk is the best Indonesian learning app
uTalk helps you learn how to speak and recognise a wide variety of Indonesian words and phrases. It's app-based, online and ready when you are.
Speak first
Practical content covering greetings, travel, food and everyday life. Everything you need to start speaking from day one.
Authentic speakers
Learn from male and female native Indonesian speakers, not computer voices. Hear the language exactly as it's spoken across Indonesia.
Beginner friendly, fun and effective
Game-like practice builds your confidence. Lessons are short, focused and based on real-life situations.
Learn Indonesian online (common phrases and audio)
uTalk helps you learn how to speak and recognise key words and phrases. It's app-based, online and ready when you are.
Saya mau kopi.
I’d like a coffee, please.
Halo.
Hello.
Ya.
Yes.
Ya, terima kasih.
Yes please.
Tidak.
No.
Enjoying uTalk?
Get access to over 2500 words and phrases with more games like this one.
Get Started
Tidak, terima kasih.
No thanks.
Silakan.
Please.
Terima kasih.
Thank you.
Terima kasih banyak.
Thank you very much.
Enjoying uTalk?
Get access to over 2500 words and phrases with more games like this one.
Get Started
Sama-sama.
You’re welcome.
Dua bir.
Two beers, please.
bis
bus
mobil
car
Enjoying uTalk?
Get access to over 2500 words and phrases with more games like this one.
Get Started
taksi
taxi
kereta api
train
stasiun kereta api
railway station
bandara
airport
Enjoying uTalk?
Get access to over 2500 words and phrases with more games like this one.
Get Started
hotel
hotel
paspor
passport
telepon
telephone
Maaf.
Excuse me.
Enjoying uTalk?
Get access to over 2500 words and phrases with more games like this one.
Get Started
Jam berapa?
What time is it?
Tolong ulang.
Can you repeat that please?
Tolong bicara lebih pelan.
Please speak more slowly.
Saya tidak mengerti.
I don’t understand.
Enjoying uTalk?
Get access to over 2500 words and phrases with more games like this one.
Get Started
Maaf.
Sorry.
Di mana toiletnya?
Where are the toilets?
Toilet Wanita
Ladies’ Toilet
Toilet Pria
Gents’ Toilet
Enjoying uTalk?
Get access to over 2500 words and phrases with more games like this one.
Get Started
Di mana pantainya?
Where is the beach?
Di mana bank?
Where is the bank?
Berapa harganya?
How much does this cost?
kartu kredit
credit card
Enjoying uTalk?
Get access to over 2500 words and phrases with more games like this one.
Get Started
ATM
cash machine
Sampai Jumpa.
Goodbye.
parasetamol
paracetamol
kunci
keys
Enjoying uTalk?
Get access to over 2500 words and phrases with more games like this one.
Get Started
peta
map
kiri
left
kanan
right
satu
one
Enjoying uTalk?
Get access to over 2500 words and phrases with more games like this one.
Get Started
dua
two
tiga
three
Where is it spoken?
Indonesia
Number of speakers
170,000,000
Language family
Austronesian
Malayo-Polynesian
Malayo-Chamic
Fun facts | Indonesian
- A false friend for English speakers is 'air', which in Indonesian means 'water'.
- Indonesians have a concept called 'jam karet' - literally 'rubber time' - which refers to a flexible attitude towards deadlines and appointments.
- Nouns can be repeated to form plurals or express similar concepts: 'langit' is sky but 'langit-langit' is ceiling, and 'mata' is eye while 'mata-mata' is spy.
How our Indonesian lessons work
Learning Indonesian should feel easy and enjoyable from your first lesson. Begin with greetings and high-frequency words, then move into practical categories covering food, travel and essential phrases. Every word you hear is voiced by native speakers so you quickly become familiar with its sounds and rhythms. Game-like exercises test you on what you've learned to create stronger memories, and reviews adapt to focus on the words you find trickiest.
Pick a category and the app organises the content so beginners get quick wins early. Follow a guided learning path or explore for yourself what to learn and when. You'll be practising and improving your pronunciation right from the start so you can progress quickly. Store your favourite words and phrases in the in-app Phrasebook for easy access and get tested on them too, if you like. Switch categories any time, learn online or offline, on mobile or desktop. If you have questions, contact support. We’re happy to help.
Indonesian vs. Malay
Understanding the differences between Indonesian and Malay helps you avoid confusion and appreciate each language’s unique identity.
Get Started
Key points
- Indonesian and Malay are closely related languages that are largely mutually understandable, sharing the same Malay roots. The biggest differences are in vocabulary, with Indonesian borrowing more words from Dutch and Malay borrowing more words from English, as well as some differences in pronunciation and spelling.
- Some words also look the same but have different meanings in Indonesian and Malay, so learners need to watch out for these.
- In uTalk, Indonesian is taught as its own language, separate from Malay, so you can focus on the version actually spoken in Indonesia rather than in Malaysia.
"We help make learning Indonesian easy."
"We understand it can feel daunting to tackle a new language so we make things easy by focusing on speaking and listening skills first. That way, you'll start having fun using the language and be more motivated to tackle the tougher stuff like grammar further down the line. At uTalk, we believe every language matters, which is why we recorded native Indonesian speakers, so you can hear exactly how the language is genuinely spoken, not just how it reads in a textbook."
Get Started
Richard Howeson
uTalk Founder
Why learners trust uTalk for Indonesian
At uTalk, we are passionate about helping people build real confidence in new languages. Our Indonesian content is recorded by native speakers, so every lesson gives you audio you can trust. The app works for English speakers and for speakers of more than 140 other languages. Check our reviews and see how learners are turning daily practice into real progress.
Your Indonesian language learning journey
Maybe you're relocating to Indonesia for work, have Indonesian friends or family or want to get more out of travel through Bali and beyond. Finding lessons that focus on real spoken Indonesian, rather than dense grammar rules, can feel like a challenge.
Get StarteduTalk can help. Take your first proper look at Indonesian with First Words like terima kasih (thank you), then build everyday phrases you can use in real situations. You'll listen to native Indonesian speakers, record yourself copying them and compare the two. Game-like practice makes it fun for beginners, while practical content helps more experienced learners fill gaps in their vocabulary. Learn online or offline, follow a guided path or choose what to work on and when.
The outcome is simple. You'll speak Indonesian with confidence and understand more of what people say around you. You'll use your new skills with family, friends and people you meet across Indonesia. uTalk fits your life.
Learn real-life categories in Indonesian
Explore the Austronesian language family
Indonesian belongs to the Malayo-Chamic branch of the Austronesian language family, sharing roots with other languages across maritime Southeast Asia. If you're curious to compare words, sounds or everyday phrases across the wider Austronesian family, check out: Malay, Javanese, Filipino (Tagalog) and Cebuano (Bisaya).
These languages share deep historical roots, so learning Indonesian can give you a useful head start exploring the wider Austronesian family.
Get StartedYour Indonesian questions, answered
Do you offer live online classes or is it just an app?
uTalk is an app and online language learning software. Lessons are digital, short and practical. If you want a tutor, the app still helps you prepare for class and review between sessions.
Can I start as a beginner?
Yes. The course begins with basic greetings and everyday words and phrases and takes you to an A1–A2 level on the CEFR scale. Some of our topics even cover material you’d learn as you grow your skills to B1 or B2.
What application languages do you support? Can I learn without English?
Yes. uTalk works for speakers of more than 140 languages. Choose the one that suits you in Settings.
How is content selected and ordered?
Topics are based on real-life situations. You can select any category and the app suggests a smart learning order for beginners. You can change it at any time.
How does uTalk compare with YouTube lessons?
YouTube can be useful, but it’s hard to check pronunciation or get structured reviews. uTalk gives you native speaker audio, games that test tricky words more often and a clear path from basic to practical use.
Is Indonesian the same as Malay?
They're very closely related and largely mutually understandable, but not identical. Indonesian has more Dutch-derived vocabulary, while Malay has more English-derived vocabulary, and there are some differences in spelling and pronunciation between the two.
Is Indonesian easy to learn?
Indonesian has fairly consistent grammar and no verb tenses to memorise, which many learners find more approachable than other languages. uTalk's short lessons and native speaker audio help you build confidence quickly and focus on the speaking and listening skills you need to get started.
How fast can I learn to speak Indonesian?
Short, regular sessions work best. Many learners can handle simple conversations after a few weeks of steady practice. Your progress depends on how often you use the app and how much you review.
Where can I learn Indonesian with uTalk?
We're available on iOS, Android, web, Mac and PC. Get started now and you'll be directed to download uTalk for your device.
Topics
- First Words
- Transport
- Restaurant
- Food and Drink
- Cooking
- Places
- Directions
- Illness
- Doctor
- Body
- Emergencies
- Social Phrases
- Leisure
- Likes and Dislikes
- Football Match Abroad
- Football Commentary
- Sports
- Shopping Words
- Fruit
- Vegetables
- Clothes
- Ingredients
- Home
- Bathroom
- Kitchen
- Tools
- Family
- Occupations
- Animals
- Animals' Bodies
- Farming
- Technology
- School
- Business
- Numbers up to Twenty
- Numbers up to Ten Million
- Essential Phrases
- Adjectives
- Prepositions
- Colours
- Countries
- Calendar
- Time
- Timetable
- Outdoors
- Holiday
- Skiing
- Camping
- Golf
- Sailing
- Driving
- Olympics
- Summer Olympics
- Winter Olympics
- Military Commands
- Military Peace Keeping
- Military Intelligence
- Accommodation
- Shopping Phrases
- Travelling
- Free Starter Words
- Disaster Relief - Volunteers
- Natural Disasters
Get by with basic greetings, words and phrases including 'hello', 'thank you' and 'I'd like a coffee please'.