Indonesian Slang

“Feeling tired or exhausted.”

“Bjir is a slang expression used to convey shock, confusion, or even disbelief about a situation. This word is often said in a surprising tone and can be used in various contexts, both serious and playful.”

“On fire; performing extremely well or looking impressive.”

“A prokem slang term from 1980s Jakarta referring to a weapon, particularly a bladed or firearm used in criminal or street contexts.”

“A person one has a romantic interest in but has not yet officially become a partner; commonly referred to as a “crush” or a prospective romantic partner still in the courtship stage.”

“A slang verb meaning to confuse, to absurdly astonish, or to cause someone to feel that a situation or statement is beyond rational comprehension. Used to express a reaction toward something perceived as silly, illogical, or “out of this world” in the most baffling sense.”

“Not using common sense or logic; stupid, not thinking properly”

“Excessive to an unreasonable degree.”

“A term describing young individuals who follow specific trends in music, fashion, or subculture. Typically refers to trendy youth with a unique aesthetic sense, actively participating in particular communities or genres, and presenting a distinctive style.”

“An informal affirmative expression used to casually signal agreement or confirmation, equivalent to the formal iya (yes). Typically delivered in a lighthearted, non-formal register.”

“A loanword from English used to affirm that an event or condition is genuinely occurring and not exaggerated. In South Jakarta slang, it functions as an “intensity” marker that reinforces a statement, replacing native equivalents such as benar-benar or sungguh-sungguh.”

“A casual and informal term for a “domestic helper”, referring to a person employed to carry out household tasks such as cooking, cleaning, doing laundry, and managing daily domestic needs within another person's home.”

“First-person singular pronoun in informal speech, meaning I or me. Used by speakers to refer to themselves in casual everyday conversation. Equivalent to “aku” in formal Indonesian, but carries a more relaxed, familiar tone with less social distance between speakers.”

“Ayas is an expression used to refer to someone in a friendly or casual way.”

“Describing someone or something as excessively showy, tacky, or lacking taste in appearance and lifestyle; a popular synonym for “tryhard” or “cheesy”. Commonly used as a mockery among teenagers toward those deemed overdramatic in style.”

“Cegil refers to an attitude of being excessively obsessive or intense about something, such as hobbies, games, or idols, to the point of appearing unnatural or ridiculous. The term is used jokingly to tease friends who exhibit such behavior without intending offense.”

“A term referring to something uncertain, ambiguous, or in between two conditions”

“A state in which thirst has been quenched after drinking; no longer feeling thirsty.”

“The exclamation “Gaskeun” is an “invitation” or “command” to immediately perform an action, continue an activity, or move quickly.”

“Abbreviation of 'omong doang', meaning all talk with no action or proof”

“A feeling of annoyance, irritation, or displeasure caused by something bothersome; Common synonyms: “annoyed”, “irritated”. A phonetic slang form of the standard Indonesian word kesal, widely used in informal speech, especially among teenagers and students.”

“A word from the “bahasa prokem” slang system of the 1980s, representing a coded form of the word jalan (street, road, or to walk), formed through the characteristic prokem encoding method of inserting specific syllables between consonants and vowels.”

“Excessively “arrogant” or cocky, often accompanied by a condescending attitude toward others; equivalent to the informal terms full of oneself or stuck-up.”

“A slang term referring to individuals with same-sex orientation, used broadly within Indonesian LGBT communities. “Boti” serves as an informal umbrella label for gay, lesbian, or bisexual persons.”