Indonesian slang

Indonesian slang language (bahasa gaul or bahasa prokem) is a non-formal language of Indonesia mainly spoken in urban areas.

History

Indonesian slang language is an informal variety of the Indonesian language.

Its native name, bahasa gaul, means 'language for socialization', as gaul means 'to be socialised'. This term was coined in the late 1990s.

The term bahasa prokem, which was coined in the early 1980s, means 'the language of gangsters'; prokem is a slang form of preman, derived from the Dutch word free-man, which means 'gangster'.

Indonesian slang language is mainly a spoken form, used in social milieus and in popular media, and to certain extent is used in publications such as teen magazines or pop culture magazines. One can deduce that Indonesian slang language is the primary language for oral communication spoken by everybody in daily life, except for formal speeches. It would be very unusual to communicate orally to people using the formal Indonesian.

The slang language is an ever-evolving language, as many words quickly become outdated and obsolete because of trends.

Classification

There is no formal classification of Indonesian slang language, except perhaps that it is a subclass of the Indonesian language.

Geographic distribution

Indonesian slang language is mainly spoken in urban areas. There are different variations of slang language in different cities, mainly characterised by derivatives of different local ethnic languages. For example, in Bandung, West Java, the slang language contains vocabulary from the Sundanese language (See "Region Specific Slang" below).

Official status

Indonesian slang language is not an official language of Indonesia, although it is widely used for oral communication in daily life.

Sounds

Indonesian slang language is pronounced the same as formal Indonesian. Words borrowed from other language such as English or Dutch are transliterated in Indonesian orthography. For example, 'please' is written as plis, and 'married' as merit.

Grammar

Indonesian slang language structure and grammar are not so much different from formal Indonesian, albeit in many cases sentences are simplified or shortened when necessary. The differences between formal and colloquial Indonesian are mostly ones of vocabulary.

Vocabulary

Indonesian slang language structure is derived mainly from formal Indonesian. Its vocabulary is extended by a combination of derivatives or borrowings from foreign languages such as Hokkien, English, and Dutch, or local ethnic languages such as Betawi, Sundanese, and Javanese. In many cases however, new words are invented on the spot, and their origin is obscure.

Some of the slang language vocabulary was transformed from formal Indonesian through several ways [1]:

• Nasalisation of active verb and adding -in at the end of the word, for example:
  • pikir (to think) into mikir
  • menanyakan (to ask) into nanyain
• Adding -in at the end of the passive transitive verbs, for example:
  • diajari (to be taught) into diajarin
  • dipukuli (to be beaten) into dipukulin
• Adding ke- at the beginning of passive intransitive verbs, instead of using ter-, for example:
  • tertangkap (to be caught) into ketangkep
  • terpeleset (to accidentally slip) into kepeleset
• Eliminating one or few letters of the word, for example:
  • habis (depleted) into abis
  • tahu (know) into tau
• Contraction of two or more words into one word, for example:
  • terima kasih (thank) into makasih
  • jaga image (to safeguard one's social image) into jaim
• Replacing letter a into e in some words, for example:
  • benar (correct) into bener
  • pintar (smart) into pinter
• Contracting diphthong into monosyllabic letter, for example:
  • kalau (if) into kalo
  • pakai (use) into pake

Some words are transliterations of English ones, for example:

• Sorry into sori
• Friend into pren
• Swear into suer

Many words also emerged without following the above rules at all. Sometime the words have their own unique history or origin.

• Cuek (to ignore or to take something easy) - popularized by Ruth Sahanaya in her 80s hit Astaga; probably derived from the Malay word cuai, that means 'negligent'.
• Do'i (boyfriend / girlfriend) - originated from the word dia (him/her) transformed by inserting letter 'o' in the middle and deleting the last letter 'a'. It is later transformed into Doski.
• Bokep' (pornographic film) - originated from abbreviation BF which means 'Blue Film'. BF is read 'Be-Ef', which in its pidgin form is read as Be-Ep. The word Bokep obtained by inserting 'ok' in between 'Be-Ep'.
• Jayus - A joke that is meant to be or sound funny, but it is not. It roughly means 'corny'
• Jijay - which means 'disgusting'. Sometimes to express a condition of 'very disgusting', it is used in the phrase jijay bajay. The same rules are valid for najis and najis jaya (sometimes converted to 'ji-ji' when speaking to a child)

General words and phrases

This entry will list words and phrases from Indonesian slang, which are not region-specific (see below), and which are never considered as outdated.

• Banget - (Formal: Sangat, Amat) Very. A derivative term from Javanese
• Bokap - (Formal: Bapak, Ayah) Father, developed from Boss Kakap literally means big boss
• Bonyok - (Formal: Orang Tua / Ayah Ibu) Parents. Originated from a combination of Bokap and Nyokap
• Gua, Gue, Wa - (Formal: Aku, Saya) I. Originated from Hokkien Wa which means I
• Lu, Lo, Elu, Elo - (Formal: Engkau, Kau, Kamu, Anda) You. Originated from Hokkien Li which means You
• Nggak, Ngga, Gak, Ga - (Formal: Tidak) No
• Nyokap - (Formal: Ibu) Mother, developed from Nyonya Kakap literally means big mistress

Particles

• Deh
• Dong
• Ding or Dhing
• Kan
• Lah
• Lagi
• Sih
• Nyah

Sexual slang

• Akika or Eike - (Formal: Aku) I; Kawanua - (Formal: Kamu, Kau) You, Diese - (formal: Dia) He/She. Usually these term are used by the transvestites. Eike was originated from Dutch Ik which means 'I'
• Béncong, Banci, Binan, Bénces - Transvestite, Cross Dresser, feminine male, sometimes says to a coward person
• Wadam (Wanita Adam), Waria (Wanita Pria)' - shemale with dominant masculine look. Wanita = female, Adam = male, Pria = male.
• Hombréng, Homo, Homodimuko (originally means 'gay face'), Homséx - Gay
• Biji - Testicles lit. means : seeds
• Kontol, To'ol, Batang, Burung (=bird), Peli, Pelér, Kacuk, Zakar - Penis
• Titit - childish term of kontol
• Jembut, Gambris - Pubic hair
• Lines, Lés Biola (originally means 'violin course'), Lésbong, Lésbi - Lesbian
• Téték, Tokét, - Breast
• Kulup - uncircumcized male person, lit. means "foreskin"
• Biji Pelér - Testicles
• Karaoké - same as sepong, refers to the similarity of a woman singing with a microphone
• Njilat - oral sex, a man do cunnilingus, literally means 'licking'
• Itil, Kelentit - clitoris
• Onani, Masturbasi, Ngloco - masturbation (self service)
• Ngacéng - penis erection, lit. means 'pointing up'

Swear words

• Kamprét - Jerk, literally means bats.
• Tai - Shit, lit. means 'faeces'
• Bangsat - means Damn in a harsh way, literally means bed bugs
• Bégo, Goblok - stupid, usually says to a person who perform an idiotic way
• Bréngsék - you suck! or 'scum you are!', also "damn it"
• Monyét Luh, Bedés Kon - you're a monkey.
• Genjik - pig
• Édan, Gemblung - nuts, insane, lit. means 'an unhealthy mental person'

Abbreviation Slang

• Narkoba (Narkotika dan Obat terlarang) - narcotics and illegal drugs
• ABG (Anak Baru Gede) - teenagers, usually says to a person between 12 and less than 17 years old
• Ha-Pe (Hand Phone) - cellular phone
• Angkot (ANGkutan KOTa) - minivans public transportation
• Mercy - Mercedes Benz luxury car
• MCK (Mandi Cuci Kakus) - public restroom with a bathroom.
• Kompie (Komputer) - a personal computer
• BT (boring total) - totally bored
• Asbun (Asal Bunyi) - speak without forethought
• CD (celana dalam) - underwear pants
• Perek (perempuan eksperimen) - prostitutes, lit. means experimental female
• O-Ge (OG, Omong Gede) - bigmouthed person
• Es-Te-We (STW, Setengah TuWa) - middle aged person
• STMJ (susu telur madu jahe) - a kind of traditional tonic drink made from susu (milk), telur (egg), madu (honey) and jahe (ginger root)
• Edi Tansil (Ejakulasi Dini Tanpa hasil) - lit means, premature ejaculation but has nothing. A rude joke for a long term married man without child. This term were derived from a notorious corruptor, Edi Tanzil.

Money slang

• Cêpék - one hundred rupiah, from a Chinese dialect means one hundred
• Cêjing - one thousand rupiah, from a Chinese dialect means one thousand
• Cêban - ten thousand rupiah, from a Chinese dialect means ten thousand
• Cêtiauw - one million rupiah, from a Chinese dialect means one million

Change the Prefix Cê which means 'one' to Gô which means 'five' or to Câp which means 'ten'. (ten thousand have a special character in Chinese, thus it doesn't starts with prefix Câp

Other slang

• Wereng Coklat - police, this term refers to similarity of wereng coklat or brown planthooper bugs (Nilaparvata lugens) color with the Indonesian Police uniform.
• Lalér Ijo - Army Soldiers. lit. means : blowflies, derived from the similarity color of the uniform.
• Préman - thugs
• Résé, réséh - annoying or irritating person.
• Mémblé - having a bad mood, or needing a friend, or a disappointed machine (broken, not working properly etc.)
• manyun - disappointed and pouting.
• Pélét - magic spells to attract a guy or girl. derived from word "telepathy" read backward.
• Cipoa - liar
• Cuék - to ignore
• Cupang - love bite / hickey. lit. means : siamese fighting fish
• Bulé - Caucasian person. lit. means : albino
• Jabrik - army look haircut, or Don King hairstyle
• Kentut - to fart
• Sténsilan - low-cost pornographic magazine. Made from cheap papers and typed with typewriter machine.
• Butut - obsolete (for things), ugly look (for person)
• Térong - long eggplant used for masturbating (woman). Lit. means : eggplant.
• Tau ah gelap - i don't care! lit. means : " I don't know, (because) it's dark"
• Ngebom - go to restroom, lit. means : "bombing"
• Culun - lame
• Babu, jongos, kacung - rude term for " assistant" lit. means : maiden
• Gélé - marijuana
• Putaw - ecstacy, lit. means : grape, derived from Chinese words pu tao
• Belagu - overacting
• Télér - drunks
• Cat Oven - baked-paint workshop. Not a place to roast cats for dinner. Spelled "chat oven".
• Semprit - speeding ticket or road penalty. this terms refers to a police that blow his whistle when pull overing a car. lit. means : whistle.
• Mimpi kali yé! - only in your dreams.
• Randa kempling - young widow
• Jayus - telling jokes that is not funny
• Garing - a joke that is not funny (dry). lit. means dry or crispy
• Jomblo - single, has no boyfriend or girlfriend.
• Amit amit - God forbid!
• Nongkrong - to hang out. lit. means : squat
• Nungging - to bend down, backside up

Vocabulary evolution

Before 1980s

• Kumpul kebo - Living together but not married, as in domestic partners. lit. means 'water-buffaloes-style gathering'

1980s

1980s is the era of bahasa prokem. In this era, slang language vocabulary was formed by inserting '-ok-' after the first consonant of a word, and deleting the last syllable, creating a totally new word.

For example, the word Bapak is broken into B-ok-apak and the last -ak is deleted, and the resulting word is Bokap which used as a slang for Father, even until now.

The word Sekolah (School) is transformed into Skokul, but this word is slowly become outdated and by 1990s the word is not used anymore. (currently transformed into simply: sekul)

Notable words like mémblé, kécé, the sentence attribute Nih yé, andh the exclamation Alamakjan! emerged in the same decade.

List of words and phrases commonly used in the 1980s:

• Bo'il - Automobiles
• Do'i / Doski - Girlfriend / Boyfriend
• Gara - No / Not
• Kécé - Cute
• Kupêr - Acronym of Kurang Pergaulan which literally means not well socialised
• Mémblé - Ugly, Sombre, Sad, Disappointed
• Ngokar - To smoke
• Ngegele - To smoke pot
• Ogut - Me, I or Mine
• Résé or Résék - Annoying, Intrusive
• Rokum - House / Home
• Saik - Acronym of Asik
• Spokat - Shoes
• Masuk TV - Yufa's Language

1990s

List of words and phrases commonly used in the 1990s:

• Bété - Bad mood, upset (from English BT = Bad Temper; the abbreviation is later 'translated' into Indonesian as Bosen Total = Totally Bored)
• Bo! - Exclamation word of no meaning
• Dugêm - Nightlife, an acronym of Dunia Gemerlap literally means Flashy World
• Lagi - Exclamation word that is used at the end of a sentence as emphasis
• Ngêbo'at - To use drugs
• Tajir - Rich
• Jomblo - Single, no boy friend/ girlfriend.

2000s

A genre of slang language in the 2000 originated from the Indonesian gay community, and popularized by Debby Sahertian in her Kamus Bahasa Gaul or Slang Language Dictionary. The method of transforming a word is to use a different word which has a similar sound. For example, the word mau (want), is replaced by the word mawar which originally means rose. Hence the sentence became quite complicated to understand: Akika tinta mawar Macarena originated from Aku tidak mau makan which means 'I do not want to eat'.

List of words and phrases commonly used in the 2000s

• Akika - I, me, myself
• Borju (Borjuis) - rich, pampered, spoiled, or show off, originally from the French word bourgeois
• Cupu (Culun punya) - lame
• Dugêm (Dunia gemerlap) - refer to something or someone which is identical to nightlife activities or hedonism (ie. night clubs, rave parties)
• Émbér' (Emang Bener) - an exclamation word to confirm something, means It is true or Indeed
• Gak asik - uncool or not fun
• Gak penting - not important / trivial
• Ge-Je (GJ: Gak Jelas) - not obvious, not understandable
• Gitu loh! - an exclamation word that is used at the end of a sentence as emphasis, or means, "That's it!" (eg. "So what, gitu loh!")
• Jayus - a joke that is meant to be or sound funny, but it is not. It roughly means corny in English.
• Kacian deh lo! - pity you!
• Pembokat - maid / servant
• Plis dong ah! or Plis deh! - Oh, Please! or Gimme a break!
• Sob - buddy
• Sotoy, Sotz - to pretend to know something he/she doesn't really know.
• Sumpe lo? - are you swear?
• Sutra - done

Region specific slangs

Bali slang

Bali language have 4 placement: ASI, AMI, ASO and BK.

Balinese has a set of special alphabet consist of 18 characters. (Javanese alphabet has 20 characters)

Bandung slang

Bandung, is the capital of West Java province with predominantly Sundanese culture. Sundanese language has three levels: high (polite), normal, and low (impolite). Bandung slang mostly uses derivative of Low Sundanese words such as Aing and Maneh.

One distinct characteristic in Bandung slang grammar is generous insertion of the word anjing in a sentence. The word means dog, but its usage in Bandung slang is merely for emphasis and not as a swearword.

For example: Nasi goreng Jalan Madura ngeunah pisan, anjing! which means Fried rice in Madura Street is really delicious, gosh!

• Aing - I
• Maneh - You
• Goreng - Ugly
• Heunceut - Female genital
• Kéhéd - Male genital
• Ngeunah - Nice
• Siah - You
• Mantog siah - get lost
• Entod - fuck
• Cileupeung - stupid
• Ontohod - stupid

Jakarta slang

Jakarta is the capital of Indonesia with population of more than 12 million people. Such a huge population undoubtedly have a role in the Jakarta slang evolution.

• AGJ (anak gaul Jakarta) - teenagers who go out a lot
• Apong - variation of sepong (to do oral sex to male)
• Bang - Call for male elder people
• Bego - Stupid
• Berapa duit? or Berapaan? - How much money?
• Bokis - Cheapskate in English.
• Cokin/Cinko/Cinin - Cinko is originally the slang abbreviation for Cina Kota, which litelary means Chineese living in the downtown area of the city. Chinese Indonesian (derogatory term)
• Doang - Only
• Dodol - Stupid
• Emang - So / it is so.
• Emangnya kenapa? - So what?
• EGP (emang gue pikirin) - Like I care
• Gile! - Exclamation word equals to crazy
• Gokil - Crazy or Insane (can be implied both in a positive or negative way)
• Jebe - person with thick ugly lips
• Jotos - Punch
• Kacau - Mess (the usage is a little different from formal language)
• Kenceng - Fast (speed), fastened
• Kipak - cripple
• Lempeng - Straight (direction)
• 'Monyong - big and hard lips
• Sip - Okay
• Siyok - shocked, as in "Aduh siyok!"
• Tiko - Indonesian native (derogatory term)
• Yoy - Same as Yo'i or Yo'a. It almost have no meaning, but you can use it as an ok answer.

Central Java slang

These slangs are shared across Central Java and Yogyakarta where Javanese is predominantly spoken. Like Sundanese which are spoken in Bandung, Javanese also has 3 different set of vocabularies, based on the politeness level. Common people usually talk with a mix between low-Javanese, middle-Javanese, and Indonesian. Some non-Javanese residents added their own dialects to the pot, resulting what is called the Central Java slang

• Babah - a Chinese man who was born in Indonesia
• Bôjô - boy/girlfriend. Originally in standard Javanese means 'spouse'
• Gembelengan - moving around without any certain direction
• Isa, Isô - can, able to
• Isin - shy
• Kesel - means tired in Javanese, but to other region outside Central Java it means annoyed
• Kôplak - idiot, but in fun context
• Mbadók, Madang, Njeglag - eat, having breakfast, lunch or dinner
• Mudhêng - understand
• Ndak, Ora - No
• Njuk ngópó? - so what?
• Njur piye? - Kedu term, means 'How about next?'
• Ora nggenah, Ora nggadeg - do not seems good/does not make sense
• Piye, jal? - Semarang term, means 'How about it?'
• Semeh, sebeh - Semarang slang for mother and father
• Sinyo - a word for a young boy
• Singkoh - a Chinese man
• Uelek tenan - very ugly
• Iyô, no! - Solo term, means 'of course'
• Iyô, wis! - low-Javanese term of ya udah or ya sudah meaning 'OK, whatever'
• Yô mesti! - Semarang term, means 'exactly, certainly'
• Yô, karepmu - same meaning with 'it's up to you' or 'whatever'
• Wae - too

Yogyakarta slang

Yogyakarta slang is also known as Basa Walikan, literally means 'Reverse Language' [2]. It is a transformation from Javanese, in which Javanese traditional character sequences are being switched with one another, using the formula below:

• ha na ca ra ka → pa dha ja ya nya
• da ta sa wa la → ma ga ba tha nga
• pa dha ja ya nya → ha na ca ra ka
• ma ga ba tha nga → da ta sa wa la

Using the above manner, the exclamation word Matamu! (which means: 'Your Eyes!') is transformed into Dagadu!.

Surabaya slang

Surabaya is the capital of East Java Province. This second largest city in Indonesia uses a different dialect of Javanese. Since the Javanese language originally came from the Central Java farmland, by the time it reaches East Java coastal area, it slowly changes from its original polite form into a more rough and uses a lot of swearing words.

• Arek-arek - People; Kids
• Asu - Anjing
• Banter - Fast (speed)
• Bokong - Buttocks
• Bujuk - Lie (compare to the formal meaning: to persuade)
• Budheg - Deaf
• Congok - Stupid
• Dableg - Keep coming for more
• Dancuk, dancik, cuk, dancrit, jancuk - fuck
• Dolan - To play
• Gaplek - Very annoying (gaplek = cassava)
• Gacor - Bullshit
• Gacoran - Big Mouth (Rude)
• Kenceng - Fast (but not fasten, like Jakarta slang)
• Korak - Thugs
• Kon - You
• Lontong - Stupid, useless (lontong = name of traditional food made of rice)
• Lonthe - Prostitutes
• Montor - Car
• Matamu - means 'watch your eye!' Usually used to express anger or unhappy feeling or situation
• Pekók - moron, idiot
• Reken, ngreken - Attention, pay attention

Another characteristics of Surabayan slang is to add "u" before a vowel and stressed the word in a unique way to indicate superlative forms:

• Buanyak - Very much (banyak = much)
• Buanjir - Very bad flood (banjir = flood)
• Bueda - Very different (beda = different)
• Buanget - Very something (buanyak buanget is much much more than just banyak)

In the 1990s, there are a bunch of slangs that combines "lo" and the first syllable of a word such as:

• Leken-- Motorcycle (originally from kendaraan = 'vehicle')
• Lomon - Car (originally from montor)
• Logob - Stupid (from goblok)
• Lokcong - Stupid (from congok')
• Lustup - Stupid (from 'stupid')
• Libil - Play billyard (from 'billyard')

Malang slang

Malang is a city in East Java. Malang slang typically done by swapping syllables

• Kera - Arek which means men / boys
• Ngalam - Malang (the city)
• Arodam - Madura (Madurese)
• Raijo - derived from ojir which means money

Manado slang

Manado slang, is widely used throughout the North Sulawesi province. It is used casually in everyday life and sometimes used in formal occasions. Many words are similar to the Indonesian. See: Manado Malay.

Some of the simple words for visitors are:

• oto - car
• doi - money
• kous - t-shirt
• calana - pants
• koi - bed
• slop - sandals, flip flops
• spatu/capatu - shoes
• maitua - girlfriend, a girl friend
• paitua - boyfriend, a guy friend

Some words and phrases that are more temporary mostly used by young people:

• ba jao jo - go away!, get away!
• ba ilang jo - get lost!
• so gila stou - are you nuts!?
• ajus - mother (used among peers, not to parents)
• sebe - father
• Tambio - Hustler, Prostitute or Call Girl
• oi to po? - right dude?
• Sepang (Setan Panggilan) - Satan
• Ichat (Iblis Catok) - Devil Boy
• Alot (Anak Lonte) - Son/daughter of Hustler/Bitch
• Budo (Budak Dosa) - Slave Of Sin

Some cuss words are:

• pemar, pemai, cuki, cuki mai, pendo - there are no specific meanings to these words
• lonte - slut, whore
• keode - damn

Medan slang

Medan is the capital of North Sumatra Province.

• Selow - Originated from the word slow, means relax, cooling down, or calm down
• Sikit - Originated from the word Sedikit, means a little.
• Sokam - A slang word for 'Dji Sam Soe' cigarette
• Bodat - Primate

Jambi & Palembang slang

Jambi and Palembang slang language mostly just change the letter at the end of the word with letter 'o' (but not all of the word can changed with o, mostly word which ended with 'a' letter can changed with 'o'.

• Mano (mana) - where
• Biso (bisa) - able to
• Sano (sana) - there
• Ado (ada) - exist

Another pattern is to replace/add the last letter with 'k'.

• Pulak - pula (too)
• Aek - air (water)

Other words:

• Dak - no/incapibility, e.g : dak jaleh (jaleh means can) which means can not but in rude way
• Cak - how
• Pacak - able to
• Kagek - later
• Bae - (same with Javanese wae) which means too

Pontianak slang

Pontianak slang is influenced by Malay, Teochew and Dayaknese. Sometimes it's combined with Hakka. It is spoken in Malay dialect. The slangs are spoken throughout the West Kalimantan

• oto - automobile, car
• bujur (pronounced bujo) - straight (as in direction)
• kam sia - derived from Teochew and Hakka which means 'thank you
• plaza or plasah - means the verb to slap'
• tadak, jom - (tidak) which means 'no'
• lempok - (dodol) which means 'cakes from cooked fruit'
• kalak - (nanti) which means 'later'
• bom - (ayo) which mean 'come' or 'come on'
• nenak - (nanti) which mean 'later'
• se kia - (anak kecil) which mean kid
• oplet - (angkutan umum) - mass transportation

Thug slang

Thug slang (bahasa prokem) was used by some thug long time ago. In mid 1980s, it popularized again by some teenagers and widely spoken until the end of 1980s. The slang involves removing none, one, two or three letters at the end of the word, and inserting "ok" at the middle of the word.

• prokem = preman (removing "an" and inserting "ok", means "thug")
• bokap = bapak (father)
• berokap = berapa? (how much)
• bokep = be ep (blue film)
• rokum = rumah (home)
• tokai = tai (faeces/shit)
• sepokat= sepatu (shoes)
• celokan= celana (pants)
• boker = berak (urinating)
• plokis = polisi (policeman)
• bokin = bini (wife, or sometimes it means girlfriend)
• cokin = cina (very rude, means "chinese")

See also

• Common phrases in different languages
• Language families and languages
• Demographics of Indonesia

Other related Wikis

• Indonesian Slang Tutorial in Wikibooks
• Indonesian Slang in Wiktionary

External links

• Ethnologue report for Indonesian
• Teen Language in Teen Literature
• Sprachprofi free online resources
• Indonesia-English dictionary at SEAsite
• SEASite guide to pronunciation of Indonesian
• Indonesian Slang Dictionary from Malesbanget
• Indonesian Slang Tutorial