Boleh Meaning In Indonesian

Halo semuanya, ketemu lagi ama aye, Iman Prabawa. In this article, I want to be talking about the meaning of the word [boleh] in Indonesian. As always, we are also going to be watching examples from movies, YouTube videos, comics, and others where Indonesians use the word [boleh]. 

If you are a beginner in the Indonesian language, you can learn step by step with My Lesson Here.

So, without further ado, let's talk about this.

Boleh In Indonesian

1. [Boleh] means that something is allowed and not prohibited. You can also use [boleh] when you ask for permission.

Example sentence:

1. Tidak boleh membawa kamera di ruangan ini. (No cameras are allowed in this room.)

2. A: Boleh saya permisi ke belakang? (May I go to the bathroom?)

    B: Silakan. (Yes, you may.)

2. [Boleh] is used when someone offers something to you, and you agree to accept it. It can also be used when someone comes up with an idea, and you agree with that person because you think it sounds good.

Example sentence:

1. A: Loe mau teh ngga? (Do you want tea?)

    B: Boleh. (Sure.)

2. A: Eh, gimana kalau kita sekarang nyari makan aja dulu? (Hey, how about if we are looking for something to eat now?)

    B: Wah, boleh tuh. (That sounds good.)

How to Pronounce Boleh

Here is how you pronounce [boleh] in bahasa Indonesia.

Moving on, we will look at examples where Indonesians use the word [boleh].

Examples of Boleh In Use

The first example we are about to watch is taken from Cek Toko Sebelah 2 (2022). Let's watch the clip below.

In this scene, Erwin asks permission to meet Natalie again when he returns to Jakarta. And Natalie allows it. So, [boleh] here refers to the first meaning that I explained above.

You can watch all the clips in this article without the black screen on my Buy Me a Coffee post HERE. I also provided the captions in Indonesian with English translations and vocabulary explanations so you could better understand what happens in the clips. 

The second example we are about to watch is from a TV Program, Lapor Pak (2022). Let's watch the clip below.

In this clip, Wendy Cagur offers fruit to Pak Bolot, and then Pak Bolot accepts the offer by saying [boleh tuh]. So, [boleh] here refers to the second meaning I explained above.

The third example is from Bang Mpin's YouTube channel. Let's watch the clip below.

In this clip, Bang Mpin asks the seller of Padang Satay if he can get flanks for free or not. The seller replies with the word [boleh], but the word [boleh] in this context is still unclear. [Boleh] here can mean that he can get the flanks for free, and the word [boleh] can also mean that he can get the flanks, but he needs to pay more. That's why Bang Mpin asks again to clarify whether the flanks are free or if he needs to pay more.

The fourth example is from Gadis Kretek, Episode 3 (2023). This movie can be watched on Netflix. Let's watch the short clip below.

In this clip, Lebas and Arum are reading their father and mother's letters. And then they think they need to take a rest for a while, and after taking the rest, Lebas wants to continue reading the letters again, and he asks Arum whether she also wants to continue reading the letters, and Arum replies it with the word [boleh].

     Read also: Seruput In Indonesian

That wraps up today's article. If I find another example, Insha Allah, I will update this article again. If you have any questions, just leave them in the comment below, and I'll be happy to answer them. Thank you, and I'll see you soon. Buh-bye now.