Numbers and Time in Indonesian: A Beginner Guide
Indonesian numbers are logical and easy to learn. Once you know the basics, telling time and counting become straightforward with just a few patterns.
Indonesian numbers are one of the most learner-friendly parts of the language. Unlike many languages, there are no irregular forms or complex gender agreements to worry about. Once you know the base numbers, the system builds in a completely regular way.
The base numbers
| Number | Indonesian |
|---|---|
| 1 | satu |
| 2 | dua |
| 3 | tiga |
| 4 | empat |
| 5 | lima |
| 6 | enam |
| 7 | tujuh |
| 8 | delapan |
| 9 | sembilan |
| 10 | sepuluh |
How tens and hundreds work
- 11 — sebelas (one eleven)
- 12 — dua belas (two eleven)
- 20 — dua puluh (two tens)
- 21 — dua puluh satu (two tens one)
- 100 — seratus
- 200 — dua ratus
The pattern is perfectly consistent. Once you know belas (teens), puluh (tens), and ratus (hundreds), you can construct any number up to 999.
Telling the time
The word for hour is jam. To say what time it is:
- Jam satu — one o’clock
- Jam dua — two o’clock
- Jam sepuluh — ten o’clock
For half past, use setengah (half) before the next hour:
- Setengah tiga — half past two (literally: half three)
For minutes past the hour, use lebih (more):
- Jam tiga lebih lima menit — five minutes past three
A quick note on menit and detik
- Menit — minutes
- Detik — seconds
- Jam — hour or o’clock (context makes it clear)
Numbers in Indonesian are genuinely one of the easiest parts of the language to master early, and they come up constantly in shopping, transport, and daily conversation.