How to Say Numbers in Indonesian: A Comprehensive Guide

Indonesian, the official language of Indonesia, is spoken by over 270 million people worldwide. As a widely used language in Southeast Asia, it is essential for communication, business, and cultural exchange. Learning the Indonesian language, including its numerical system, is crucial for effective interaction and understanding within Indonesian-speaking communities. This article provides a comprehensive guide to Indonesian numbers, covering basic numerals, tens and beyond, hundreds, thousands, and higher units, decimal numbers, fractions, ordinal numbers, and additional resources for further learning.

Basic Numerals

The Indonesian language uses a decimal numeral system, similar to many other languages worldwide. The basic numerals from 0 to 10 in Indonesian are as follows:

Tens and Beyond

To express numbers beyond 10, Indonesian combines the basic numerals with the words for tens. The tens in Indonesian are:

To form a number between 11 and 19, the word “belas” is added after the basic numeral. For example, “sebelas” means “eleven,” “dua belas” means “twelve,” and so on.

Hundreds, Thousands, and Higher Units

To express larger numbers, Indonesian uses the words for hundreds, thousands, and higher units. These words are:

To form a number with hundreds, thousands, or higher units, simply combine the appropriate word with the basic numeral or tens. For example, “dua ratus lima puluh” means “two hundred and fifty,” “lima ribu delapan ratus” means “five thousand eight hundred,” and “dua juta tiga ratus ribu” means “two million three hundred thousand.”

Decimal Numbers

Decimal numbers in Indonesian are expressed using the comma as a decimal separator. The word “koma” is used to indicate the decimal point. For example, the number 3.14 would be written as “tiga koma empat belas” in Indonesian.

Fractions

Common fractions in Indonesian are expressed using the words for the numerator and denominator. For example, “setengah” means “half,” “sepertiga” means “one-third,” and “seperempat” means “one-fourth.” To express a fraction as a decimal, the word “koma” is used. For example, “nol koma lima” means “point five” or “0.5.”

Ordinal Numbers

Ordinal numbers in Indonesian are formed by adding the suffix “-ke” to the basic numeral. For example, “pertama” means “first,” “kedua” means “second,” and “ketiga” means “third.” Ordinal numbers are used to indicate the position of an item in a sequence or series.

Conclusion

Numbers play a crucial role in everyday communication and various aspects of life. Learning the Indonesian numerical system, including basic numerals, tens and beyond, hundreds, thousands, and higher units, decimal numbers, fractions, and ordinal numbers, is essential for effective communication and understanding in Indonesian-speaking communities. By mastering these concepts, individuals can navigate various situations, from conducting business transactions to engaging in social interactions, with confidence and accuracy.

References:

1. “Indonesian Numbers: How to Count in Indonesian” (IndonesianPod101 Blog): https://www.indonesianpod101.com/blog/2019/10/24/indonesian-numbers/
2. “Learn Indonesian – Lesson 3: Numbers (1-10)” (L-Lingo): https://l-lingo.com/free-lessons/en/learn-indonesian/numbers-1-10.html
3. “Indonesian Numbers” (Indonesian Online): https://www.indonesian-online.com/numbers.html
4. “Indonesian Numbers and Counting” (Indonesian Language Guide): https://www.indonesianlanguageguide.com/learn-indonesian/numbers/

FAQs

How do you say the numbers from 1 to 10 in Indonesian?

The numbers from 1 to 10 in Indonesian are:

How do you express numbers beyond 10 in Indonesian?

To express numbers beyond 10, Indonesian combines the basic numerals with the words for tens. The tens in Indonesian are:

To form a number between 11 and 19, the word “belas” is added after the basic numeral. For example, “sebelas” means “eleven,” “dua belas” means “twelve,” and so on.

How do you say hundreds, thousands, and higher units in Indonesian?

To express larger numbers, Indonesian uses the words for hundreds, thousands, and higher units. These words are:

To form a number with hundreds, thousands, or higher units, simply combine the appropriate word with the basic numeral or tens. For example, “dua ratus lima puluh” means “two hundred and fifty,” “lima ribu delapan ratus” means “five thousand eight hundred,” and “dua juta tiga ratus ribu” means “two million three hundred thousand.”

How do you express decimal numbers in Indonesian?

Decimal numbers in Indonesian are expressed using the comma as a decimal separator. The word “koma” is used to indicate the decimal point. For example, the number 3.14 would be written as “tiga koma empat belas” in Indonesian.

How do you say fractions in Indonesian?

Common fractions in Indonesian are expressed using the words for the numerator and denominator. For example, “setengah” means “half,” “sepertiga” means “one-third,” and “seperempat” means “one-fourth.” To express a fraction as a decimal, the word “koma” is used. For example, “nol koma lima” means “point five” or “0.5.”

How do you express ordinal numbers in Indonesian?

Ordinal numbers in Indonesian are formed by adding the suffix “-ke” to the basic numeral. For example, “pertama” means “first,” “kedua” means “second,” and “ketiga” means “third.” Ordinal numbers are used to indicate the position of an item in a sequence or series.