Home » Practical Information » Fun with Indonesian Acronyms
Fun with Indonesian Acronyms
Some Indonesian, and some not.
Just a few fun acronyms ... to complement your Bahasa Indonesia learning!
ABCD |
ABRI Bukan Cepak Doang (He's not in the Army, but his hair style looks like one) cepak = very short hair |
Aspal |
Asli tapi palsu - original but fake / immitation (also the word for asphalt) |
ATM |
Angkat Tangan Mas Put up your hands bro! |
BCA |
bule cari ayam (foreigners looking for chickens) Bank Cape Antri (Tired of waiting!) |
BSS |
bayar sendiri-sendiri (when dining out everyone pays for their own meal - what Americans refer to as “going Dutch” |
Carmuk |
cari muka - act in order to gain interest from his/her boss (literal translation = to find face) |
Coca-Cola |
Cowok cakap cowok laki (said by girls about a good looking guy) |
EGP |
Emang Gua Pirkirin ( I don't think of it or I don't care, or why should Ithink about that) - note - note really polite, so use with caution! |
Ember |
Emang bener (that's absolutely right) - emang is a shortened version of memang |
GARUDA |
Go And Rest Until the Delay Announcement ... or ... Good And Reliable Under Dutch Administration |
IWA |
Indonesia Wins Again ... hey there ain't' nuthin' you can do ... that's just the way it is here!! |
Jayus |
Jahil and Usil - not funny, if somebody tells a joke, and its not funny, you can say "jayus" |
Jojoba |
Jomblo Jomblo Bahagia (Happy singles) |
Joker |
Jomblo Keren (Cool Single) |
Kakilima |
Kanan Kiri Lintas Manusia |
Mandor Kawat |
Kerja kendor makan kuat (work lazily but eat a lot) |
Maksi |
Makan Siang - Lunch |
Mansur |
Makan Surang - Don't share food |
OmDo |
Omong Doang - just talk no action |
PeDe |
Percaya Diri [an impression for someone who is over confident] |
Pin-Pin-Bo |
Pintar-Pintar-Bodoh [an impression for someone who pretends not knowing] |
PDA |
Please Dong Ah ... |
PPP |
Putra Putri President ... referred (in the past) to the Soeharto kids ... and their business empires |
P-7 |
Proper Prior Planning Prevent P*ss Poor Performance - P-7 (pronounced "pay tujuh") is the acronym for a past Indonesian government program |
Pungli |
Pungutan Liar - bribe (payment above/outside legal fees) |
PW or PeWe |
Posisi Wuenak - Comfortable Position. As in, "Aku tidak mau kemana-mana, soalnya udah PW." Translates , "I dont want to go anywhere, I'm comfortable here." |
SKSD |
Sok Kenal Sok Dekat - someone pretending to be close to someone else... |
SMP |
Sudah Makan Pulang ... Go to a party, eat the food and then go home ... no need to site around and chat after the meal! |
Titi Kamal |
Hati-hati Kalo Making Love - be careful if you're making love ! |
TTDJ |
(read: teetee deejay) Hati-hati Di Jalan (be careful during your trip) Note: Titi DJ is a famous singer |
Please share any fun acronyms you know with the community! Contact us.