There are more than 700 languages spoken in Indonesia. The official language is Bahasa Indonesia, a member of the Malayo-Polynesian branch of the Austronesian language family. Indonesian language is primarily used in commerce, administration, education and the media.
The vast majority of Indonesian words are of Austronesian origin, and Indonesian shares over 80% of its vocabulary with standard Malay. There are also numerous words in Indonesian that are originated from Arabic, Sanskrit, Portuguese, Dutch, and certain Chinese dialects.
In particular, the Indonesian words that are borrowed from Chinese dialects mostly become โbahasa gaulโ or informal language that is used in oral communication. Here are few of common Indonesian words that are originated from Chinese or Cantonese dialects:
| Indonesian Words | Chinese Origin | Meaning |
| Amoi | ้ฟๅฆน a mลen | Calling name for little girl |
| Anglo | ็็ hang lรด | Brazier |
| Angpau | ็ด ๅ รขng pau | Little red envelopes, usually filled with money |
| Bakiak | ๆจๅฑ bรกk kiรกh | Wooden clogs, sandals |
| Bakpia | ่้ค bah piรกn | Specialty snack from Yogyakarta, made of wheat flour and filled with mung beans. |
| Bakso | ่้ ฅ bah so | Meatballs |
| Calo | ๆฅไฝฌ chโฤ lรณ | Panders |
| Ceban | ่ฌ chรญt bฤn | Literally means โten thousandโ, but usually refers to Rp10,000 banknote |
| Cekak | ่ง chรญt kak | Insufficient (usually related to money, clothing size) |
| Cepek | ็พ chรญt peh | Literally means โa hundredโ, but usually refers to Rp100 banknote |
| Comblang | ไฝๅชไบบ tsoh h | Matchmakers |
| Cukong | ไธปๅ ฌ tsรบ kong | Well-to-do financier, business owner (slang), capitalist |
| Engkoh | ้ฟๅฅ รกn ko | Calling name for older brother |
| Gincu | ้ๆฑ gรฎn tsu | Lipstick |
| Gocap | ไบๅ gลฮ tsรกp | Literally means โfiftyโ, but usually refers to Rp50,000 banknote |
| Gue/gua | ๆ gรณa | I, me, my, mine |
| Imlek | ้ฐๆ im lรฉk | Chinese New Year |
| Kecap | ้ฎญๆฑ kรช chiap | Soy sauce |
| Kongko | ่ฌๅค kรณng kรณ | Hanging out, chatting |
| Kongkalikong | ๅ ฌๅ ฑไฝ ่ฌ kong kฤ lรญ kรณng | Collusion, conspiracy |
| Tangsi | ่ซ็ตฒ thรขng si | Police/soldier barracks |
| Kongsi | ๅ ฌๅธ gongsi | Partnership, joint venture |
| Lonceng | ไบ้ lลan cheng | Bell |
| Mihun/bihun | ้บต็ฒ mฤซn hรบn | Vermicelli, rice noodles |
| Nyonya | niong nรก | Madam, lady, maโam, wife |
| Pengki | ็็ฎ pรนn ki | Dust pan |
| Teko | ่ถ้ท tรช kรณ | Teapot |
| Tongkang | ่่ก tรดng kang | Big ship |
Turns out there are so many Indonesian phrases that are originated from Chinese dialects. These words are not only slang languages, but are also used in formal documents and speech.
