Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about ibahasa: how we work, what we cover, and how you can get involved.
About ibahasa
What is ibahasa?
ibahasa is a living, community-driven dictionary of Indonesian language and culture. We document how Indonesian is actually used—from contemporary slang and regional dialects, to academic terminologies and cultural expressions—across all registers and variations. Our mission is to capture the richness and evolution of Indonesian language as spoken by millions across the archipelago.
What makes ibahasa different from traditional dictionaries?
Traditional dictionaries like KBBI are prescriptive (telling you what 'should' be correct). ibahasa is descriptive—we document how language is actually lived and used today. We capture slang, dialects, cultural nuances, and tone. Every entry includes real-world examples, contextual notes on formality/tone, audio pronunciations, and evidence-based definitions from genuine usage. We also prioritize speed: new words enter ibahasa within days of emergence, not years.
Who can contribute to ibahasa?
Anyone. Visit our Contribute page and submit a word with its definition, usage examples, tone, domain, and supporting evidence. Our community of linguists, regional experts, and everyday speakers reviews and validates entries. Contributors are credited and appear on our leaderboard. This crowdsourced approach ensures that ibahasa represents diverse voices across Indonesia.
Kamus vs Kata Baku
What's the difference between Kamus and Kata Baku?
ibahasa has two complementary resources:
Kamus (All Words)
- ✓ Contemporary slang & internet culture (bjir, gw, lu, makanya)
- ✓ Regional dialects from all Indonesia
- ✓ Tempo doeloe (archaic words)
- ✓ Colloquial expressions & casual speech
- ✓ Community-driven definitions
- ✓ Fast-moving, captures emerging vocabulary
Kata Baku (Standard)
- ✓ Standardized vocabulary (KBBI-inspired)
- ✓ Academic & formal language
- ✓ Professional pronunciations with audio
- ✓ Curated by ibahasa linguists
- ✓ Verified & enriched definitions
- ✓ Higher editorial standards
In short: Kamus = all living Indonesian (fast, inclusive, community). Kata Baku = formal/standard subset (curated, verified, audio-rich).
Is Kata Baku 100% official KBBI?
No. Kata Baku is inspired by KBBI (Kamus Besar Bahasa Indonesia—the official Indonesian dictionary) but independently curated by ibahasa. We include official entries but also add: professional pronunciation audio, contextual tone/register tags, regional usage notes, and contemporary language insights that KBBI may lack. Think of it as KBBI modernized and enriched, not a replacement or direct copy.
Coverage & Scope
Is ibahasa only a slang dictionary?
No. This is a common misconception. ibahasa covers the full spectrum of Indonesian:
- • Slang & internet culture (bjir, skuy, lanjay)
- • Regional dialects (Javanese, Sundanese, Betawi, Minangkabau, etc.)
- • Academic & scientific terms (fisika, seismologi, neuropati)
- • Political & journalistic jargon (koalisi, omnibus law)
- • Medical terminology (pneumonia, antihipertensi)
- • Formal/standard vocabulary (Kata Baku section)
- • Archaic words (tempo doeloe)
- • Professional jargon (dari berbagai industri)
Slang is just one important part of living language. Our mission is to document the entire linguistic ecosystem of Indonesia.
What languages and dialects does ibahasa cover?
We focus on Indonesian (Bahasa Indonesia) as spoken across the entire archipelago, including all regional variations and dialects. This includes: Javanese influences in Indonesian, Sundanese expressions, Betawi slang, Minangkabau terms, Balinese usages, and dialectal variations from Sabang (Aceh) to Merauke (Papua). We document how these regional languages have been integrated into and shape modern Indonesian. We're building a resource that authentically reflects linguistic diversity across Indonesia, not just a single 'standard' variety.
Quality & Verification
What makes an entry 'verified' or of high quality?
Our editorial process ensures quality:
- Clarity: Definition must be clear and understandable
- Real-world evidence: Must have usage examples (social media, books, news, audio)
- Appropriate tone: Register/formality level correctly identified
- Domain accuracy: Correct category (slang, academic, regional, etc.)
- Multi-layer review: Checked by linguists + community members
Entries marked 'Verified' have passed this multi-layer curation. Unverified entries are still useful and visible, but marked as pending review.
How can I contribute and what's expected?
Visit our Contribute page and submit:
- • Word (the term you're defining)
- • Definition (clear, in 1-2 sentences)
- • Examples (1-2 real-world usage examples)
- • Tone (formal, neutral, casual, slang, sarcastic, rude, etc.)
- • Domain (topic: slang, academic, medical, tech, etc.)
- • Evidence (where you saw this word used—Twitter, books, news, audio)
Our community reviews your submission within days. If verified, it appears in Kamus (and if formal enough, in Kata Baku). You're credited and appear on the leaderboard.
Practical Questions
How often is content updated?
Continuously. New slang emerges daily. We monitor social trends, news cycles, and community submissions to capture vocabulary in real-time. When new usage patterns emerge, entries can be updated within hours. This is one of ibahasa's core strengths: we move at the speed of language, not the speed of traditional print publishing.
Do you have audio/pronunciation for every word?
We're adding audio progressively. Kata Baku entries have professional ElevenLabs-generated pronunciations. Community-submitted Kamus entries are getting audio coverage as we expand. You can help by: (1) contributing audio files, (2) helping us prioritize which words need audio most, or (3) reporting missing pronunciations.
Can I use ibahasa data commercially?
All entries and community contributions are licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0. This means: ✓ You CAN use data for educational and non-commercial purposes with attribution. ✗ Commercial use is NOT permitted without explicit permission. This license protects community contributions while keeping linguistic data free for research and learning. If you need commercial rights, contact us.
Still Have Questions?
Check out our About page for more about our mission and editorial standards, or visit our community for direct support.