Indonesian is often touted as an 'easy' language for beginners. Sure, it doesn’t have verb conjugations or grammatical gender, but don’t let that fool you. There are plenty of exceptions lurking beneath the surface, waiting to trip up unsuspecting learners. Here’s what you need to watch out for.
1. The Myth of No Verb Conjugations
People love to say Indonesian verbs don’t change. Mostly true - but not always. Some verbs have irregular forms, especially in colloquial speech. For example:
Pergi
/pərˈɡi/“To go”
2. The 'Ber-' Prefix That Doesn’t Always Mean What You Think
The prefix 'ber-' usually indicates a state or condition (e.g., 'berteman' – to be friends). But sometimes, it does nothing of the sort. Take 'berjalan' – it means 'to walk', not 'to be a jalan' (which would be nonsense).
- 'Bersepeda' – to ride a bicycle (not 'to be a bicycle')
- 'Bermain' – to play (not 'to be a game')
3. The Sneaky Passive Voice
Indonesian often uses passive constructions where English wouldn’t. For example:
Buku itu dibaca oleh saya
/ˈbuku iˈtu diˈbat͡ʃa oˈleh saˈja/“That book was read by me”
This isn’t a hard rule, but passive voice is far more common in Indonesian than in English. Ignore it, and you’ll sound oddly direct.
4. Adjectives That Defy Logic
Most Indonesian adjectives follow the noun ('rumah besar' – big house). But some flip the order, like in English. For example:
| Standard Order | Exception |
|---|---|
| Mobil merah (red car) | Orang tua (old person, lit. 'person old') |
| Kucing hitam (black cat) | Anak kecil (small child, lit. 'child small') |
5. The 'Me-' Prefix That Doesn’t Always Indicate Action
The prefix 'me-' usually turns a noun into a verb (e.g., 'mencuci' – to wash). But sometimes, it’s just there for decoration. For example:
Melihat
/məˈlihat/“To see”
Not all 'me-' verbs have a root that stands alone. Some are just... like that.
6. The Quirky Pluralisation Rules
Indonesian usually doesn’t mark plurals, but when it does, it’s inconsistent. Reduplication (e.g., 'buku-buku' for 'books') is common, but not always used. Sometimes, context alone indicates plurality.
- 'Anak-anak' (children) – reduplicated
- 'Banyak orang' (many people) – no reduplication needed
If you’re unsure, context is your friend. But don’t assume reduplication is optional - some words demand it.
7. The 'Sudah' Trap
'Sudah' usually means 'already', but it’s also used to indicate completion in a way that doesn’t always translate neatly. For example:
Sudah makan?
/ˈsudah ˈmakan/“Have you eaten?”
Don’t overthink it. Just accept that 'sudah' does more than you’d expect.
8. The 'Yang' That Doesn’t Mean 'Which'
'Yang' is often translated as 'which' or 'that', but it’s also used for emphasis or to create relative clauses in ways that don’t map directly to English. For example:
Orang yang tinggi
/ˈoraŋ ˈjaŋ ˈtiŋɡi/“The tall person”
It’s not optional. Forget it, and your sentences will sound broken.
Final Thoughts
Indonesian grammar isn’t as simple as some people claim. These exceptions aren’t dealbreakers, but they’ll catch you off guard if you’re not prepared. Learn them early, and you’ll save yourself a lot of confusion.
For more on Indonesian basics, check out our guide on everyday greetings in Indonesian or public transport phrases.
