A Living Dictionary of Indonesian Language & Culture
ibahasa documents how Indonesian is actually used—slang, dialects, and cultural expressions—curated by people and supported by technology.
Documenting Living Language
We combine advanced technology with human cultural insight to capture language as it evolves. Technology helps us discover trends at scale, while our community ensures every definition captures the true spirit of the word.
How We Build Entries
Trend Identification
We continuously monitor pop culture and social trends to capture new vocabulary the moment it emerges.
Contextual Enrichment
Definitions are layered with emotional tone, usage examples, and regional origins to explain *how* a word feels.
Collective Validation
Through specific guidelines and community consensus, every entry is refined to ensure it truly represents the language.
Editorial Policy
We are transparent about our use of technology. Our goal is to create a resource that is more comprehensive than a traditional dictionary and more structured than a forum.
Accuracy Standards
- Every lemma and sense undergoes a multi-layer curation process by human lexicographers to ensure accuracy.
- We prioritize 'descriptive' over 'prescriptive' definitions—documenting how language is actually lived.
- Regional dialects and slang are cross-referenced with local native speakers and verified recorded usage.
- Advanced Technology is used as a discovery tool, but the final editorial authority always rests with human experts.
Lexicographical Integrity
ibahasa adheres to academic standards in documenting linguistic shifts. We collaborate with linguists, regional experts, and cultural observers to validate that our data serves as a reliable historical and contemporary record of the Indonesian language.