Describing people is one of the most practical language skills. Whether you're chatting about a friend's new haircut or explaining who to look for at a train station (Indonesian transport phrases help here), these words will make your Indonesian more vivid.
Physical appearance
Tinggi
/ˈtɪŋɡi/“Tall”
Used for people, buildings, trees - anything vertically impressive. Contrast with pendek (short).
Gemuk
/ˈɡəmʊʔ/“Chubby/plump”
Neutral descriptor for body size. The more clinical kegemukan implies obesity.
| Indonesian | English | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Kurus | Thin | Can be neutral or imply underweight |
| Berjanggut | Bearded | From 'janggut' (beard) |
| Berkacamata | Wearing glasses | Handy for identification |
Personality traits
Indonesian often uses 'sangat' (very) or 'agak' (somewhat) to modify traits: Dia sangat pemalu (They're very shy).
- Ramah (/ˈramah/, friendly) – The gold standard for pleasant company
- Pemarah (/pəˈmarah/, hot-tempered) – From 'marah' (anger)
- Cerewet (/tʃəˈrewet/, talkative) – Can imply chatterbox tendencies
Pendiam
/pənˈdi.am/“Quiet/reserved”
Not necessarily shy - just not loud. In work contexts, often paired with rajin (hardworking).
For more conversational basics, see our guide to essential Indonesian travel phrases.
Cultural notes
Indonesians often comment openly on physical appearance (Kok gemuk ya? – "Have you gained weight?"), usually without malice. Similarly, terms like hitam (dark-skinned) or putih (light-skinned) are descriptive rather than sensitive topics.
When in doubt, add sekali (very) for emphasis or juga (also) to soften comparisons: Dia tinggi, kamu juga (They're tall, and so are you).
