Goceng

The word goceng originates from the Hokkien dialect, one of the Chinese dialects most influential in shaping informal vocabulary in Indonesia. In Hokkien, go means “five” and ceng means “thousand”, making goceng literally mean “five thousand”. This word is part of a Hokkien-based slang numeral system widely used in urban Indonesian society, particularly in Jakarta and major Javanese cities. The system includes words such as seceng (one thousand), noceng (two thousand), goceng (five thousand), gopek (five hundred), and ceban (ten thousand). Its usage is especially common in everyday commercial transactions at traditional markets, street stalls, and informal settings. The influence of Hokkien on Indonesian slang numerals reflects the long history of cultural interaction between overseas Chinese communities and local populations, dating back to the colonial and early trade eras. Today, the word has spread nationally through social media and popular culture.