Lesson 1

In this first lesson, we will learn [adalah], which is like [be] verb in English, and how to negate something using the word [bukan]. We will also learn how to make questions in bahasa Indonesia.

1. Vocabulary

[Saya] (formal) = I.

[Aku] (informal) = I.

[Gue], [gua], [gw] (informal) = I.

[Anda] (formal) = you.

[Kamu] (informal) = you.

[Loe], [lu], [elu], [lo], [elo] (informal) = you.

[Dia] = he or she. [Dia] is a genderless pronoun, so [dia] can be he or she. 

[Pelajar] = student.

[Karyawan] = employee.

[Karyawan kantoran] or [pekerja kantoran] = company employee.

[Karyawan bank] = bank employee.

[Guru] = teacher.

[Dosen] = lecturer.

[Bapak] = suffix added to a male name for expressing politeness. [Bapak] is usually used for someone who is already married or seems old enough.

[Pak] is short for [bapak].

[Mas] = suffix added to a male name for expressing politeness. [Mas] is usually used for someone who is not yet married and still looks young.

[Ibu] = suffix added to a female name for expressing politeness. [Ibu] is usually used for someone who is already married or seems old enough.

[Bu] is short for [ibu].

[Mba] = suffix added to a female name for expressing politeness. [Mba] is usually used for someone who is not yet married and still looks young.

Country	People	Language
America (U.S.A)	Orang Amerika	Bahasa Inggris
Inggris (U.K)	Orang Inggris	Bahasa Inggris
Italia (Italy)	Orang Italia	Bahasa Italia
Jepang (Japan)	Orang Jepang	Bahasa Jepang
Australia (Australia)	Orang Australia	Bahasa Inggris
Perancis (France)	Orang Perancis	Bahasa Perancis
Arab Saudi (Saudi Arabia)	Orang Arab	Bahasa Arab
Mesir (Egypt)	Orang Mesir	Bahasa Arab
Cina (China)	Orang Cina	Bahasa Cina/Bahasa Mandarin
Malaysia (Malaysia)	Orang Malaysia	Bahasa Melayu
Spanyol (Spain)	Orang Spanyol	Bahasa Spanyol
Korea (Korea)	Orang Korea	Bahasa Korea
Rusia (Russian)	Orang Rusia	Bahasa Rusia
Singapura (Singapore)	Orang Singapura	Bahasa Inggris
Brasil (Brazil)	Orang Brasil	Bahasa Portugis
Portugal (Portugal)	Orang Portugis	Bahasa Portugis
India (India)	Orang India	Bahasa Hindi/Bahasa India

From the table above, we can see that when we want to say someone's nationality, we add the word [orang] and then the name of their country.

Also, when we want to say the language of a country, we add the word [bahasa], which means [language], and then we add the country's name.

Useful Words and Phrases

[Eh] = This word is used when you want to say something or to attract someone's attention and make them listen to you. It's like [hey] in English.

[Perkenalkan] = This word is used when you meet someone for the first time and you want to introduce yourself or someone.

[Silakan] = This word is used when you let someone do something; a polite way when you give instruction to someone or invite someone over.

[Terima kasih banyak] = thank you very much.

[Permisi] is used in various contexts, such as:

1. A polite way of attracting someone's attention, especially someone you do not know.
2. A polite way to ask someone to move so you can walk past them.

2. Sentence Patterns

[Adalah] is like [is], [am], and [are] in English. [Bukan] is used when we want to deny something.

Formal form:

1. Saya adalah Budi. (I am Budi.)

2. Dia adalah Ria. (She is Ria.)

3. Dia adalah Joko. (He is Joko.)

4. Saya adalah seorang guru. (I am a teacher.)

5. Dia adalah seorang dokter. (He is a doctor.)

6. Joko adalah seorang dokter. (Joko is a doctor.)

7. Dia adalah seorang dosen. (She is a lecturer.)

8. Ria adalah seorang dosen. (Ria is a lecturer.)

Casual form:

1. Saya Budi. (I am Budi.)

2. Dia Ria, or Dia itu Ria. (She is Ria.)

This lesson is not yet finished. Sabar ya.. Insya Allah akan segera saya selesaikan. Please be patient; somehow, I will finish this lesson 1.