How to Count in Indonesian
Counting in Indonesian is very easy. The key is memorizing the nine basic numbers, then combining them with the higher numeric levels. So let’s start it with the basic numbers.
Satu = One
Dua = Two
Tiga = Three
Empat = Four
Lima = Five
Enam = Six
Tujuh = Seven
Delapan = Eight
Sembilan = Nine
The Tens
The tens digit is marked by the word “puluh”. So after the basic number, we just have to add “puluh” in the end. Here are the examples.
10 = sepuluh
20 = dua puluh
30 = tiga puluh
40 = empat puluh
50 = lima puluh
60 = enam puluh
70 = tujuh puluh
80 = delapan puluh
90 = sembilan puluh
Here 10 got an exception. Instead of “satu puluh”, we should shorten the word “satu” to become “se-”. So we shouldn’t say “satu puluh”, but “sepuluh” instead.
Dozens
The dozens is marked by the word “belas”. Like the tens, we just need to add “belas” after the basic numbers. Here are the examples.
11 = sebelas
12 = dua belas
13 = tiga belas
14 = empat belas
15 = lima belas
16 = enam belas
17 = tujuh belas
18 = delapan belas
19 = sembilan belas
Like in the tens, eleven becomes an exception. Instead of being “satu belas”, people call it “sebelas”.
Hundreds
To count in thousands, we should add “ratus” after the basic numbers. Here are the examples.
100 = seratus
200 = dua ratus
300 = tiga ratus
400 = empat ratus
500 = lima ratus
600 = enam ratus
700 = tujuh ratus
800 = delapan ratus
900 = sembilan ratus
Thousands
To count in thousands, we should add the word “ribu” after the basic numbers. Here are the examples.
1000 = seribu
2000 = dua ribu
3000 = tiga ribu
9000 = sembilan ribu
10.000 = sepuluh ribu
11.000 = sebelas ribu
15.000 = lima belas ribu
20.000 = dua puluh ribu
Millions
To count in millions we need to add the word “juta” after the basic numbers. Here are the examples.
1.000.000 = sejuta / satu juta
2.000.000 = dua juta
3.000.000 = tiga juta
10.000.000 = sepuluh juta
13.000.000 = tiga belas juta
60.000.000 = enam puluh juta
400.000.000 = empat ratus juta
How to Combine Numbers?
To combine numbers, we need to mention it from the highest level to the lowest. If the number is in tens, we should mention the tens first, and then followed by the unit number. If the number is in millions, we should mention the millions first, and then the thousands and the hundreds, then finally the tens or the dozens in the end. Here are the examples.
27 = dua puluh tujuh
31 = tiga puluh satu
87 = delapan puluh tujuh
124 = seratus dua puluh empat
547 = lima ratus empat puluh tujuh
1.536 = seribu lima ratus tiga puluh enam
7.092 = tujuh ribu sembilan puluh dua
3.515.000 = tiga juta lima ratus lima belas ribu
That’s how to count in Indonesian. Easy, isn’t it? To memorize it faster, you can encourage yourself to use it in real life transactions. Good luck!
