Indonesian Slang

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

“Excessive to an unreasonable degree.”

“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 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.”

“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.”

“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.”

“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.”

“An extremely lively, noisy, or exciting situation, typically in a positive or entertaining context”

“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 person's ability or skill in charming, seducing, or attracting the attention of others, often with a strong personal appeal.”

“Something obtained without payment; goods or services provided for free.”

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

“The activity of ngabuburit (passing time while waiting for the Iftar breaking of the fast) done by cruising or riding vehicles — motorcycles or cars — together with friends or a community during Ramadan. It combines social, recreational, and riding elements as an active and enjoyable way to spend late afternoons.”

“A slang variation of 'omong-omong' (talking) used to describe empty rhetoric, nonsense, or 'all talk and no action'.”

“A term from Jakarta's 1980s “prokem” slang register referring to a preman (street thug or gangster), an individual operating outside formal social norms, often involved in illicit activities and exerting informal territorial control.”

“An informal verb functioning as a slang variation of makan (to eat), used as an invitation or casual expression for eating among youth in relaxed, familiar social contexts.”

“A state of silence or being speechless due to fear, nervousness, or inability to respond to a particular situation.”

“A trait or behavior of someone who constantly repeats “sharp” criticisms or makes cynical, negative comments about trivial matters.”

“A slang term formed by blending bokap (father) and nyokap (mother), used to refer to both parents collectively.”