Master Indonesian Numbers
Indonesian has one of the simplest and most regular number systems in the world. Once you learn the digits 1–10, larger numbers are built by straightforward combination — no irregular teens like English's "eleven" and "twelve." Indonesian is also phonetic, so numbers are pronounced exactly as written. Nouns don't change for plural, making counting even simpler: satu buku (one book), tiga buku (three books).
Watch the videos below, then download the Foreign Numbers app and practice what you've learned!
Indonesian Phone Numbers
How phone numbers work in Indonesia & how locals say them
| Numeral | Malay | Indonesian |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | sifar / kosong | nol |
| 1 | satu | satu |
| 2 | dua | dua |
| 3 | tiga | tiga |
| 4 | empat | empat |
| 5 | lima | lima |
| 6 | enam | enam |
| 7 | tujuh | tujuh |
| 8 | lapan | delapan |
| 9 | sembilan | sembilan |
| 10 | sepuluh | sepuluh |
| 11 | sebelas | sebelas |
| 12 | dua belas | dua belas |
| 13 | tiga belas | tiga belas |
| 14 | empat belas | empat belas |
| 15 | lima belas | lima belas |
| 16 | enam belas | enam belas |
| 17 | tujuh belas | tujuh belas |
| 18 | lapan belas | delapan belas |
| 19 | sembilan belas | sembilan belas |
| 20 | dua puluh | dua puluh |
| 21 | dua puluh satu | dua puluh satu |
| 22 | dua puluh dua | dua puluh dua |
| 30 | tiga puluh | tiga puluh |
| 40 | empat puluh | empat puluh |
| 50 | lima puluh | lima puluh |
| 60 | enam puluh | enam puluh |
| 70 | tujuh puluh | tujuh puluh |
| 80 | lapan puluh | delapan puluh |
| 90 | sembilan puluh | sembilan puluh |
| 100 | seratus / ratus | seratus / satu ratus |
| 200 | dua ratus | dua ratus |
| 300 | tiga ratus | tiga ratus |
| 400 | empat ratus | empat ratus |
| 500 | lima ratus | lima ratus |
| 600 | enam ratus | enam ratus |
| 700 | tujuh ratus | tujuh ratus |
| 800 | lapan ratus | delapan ratus |
| 900 | sembilan ratus | sembilan ratus |
| 1000 | seribu / satu ribu | seribu / satu ribu |
| 1100 | seribu seratus | seribu seratus |
| 1200 | seribu duaratus | seribu duaratus |
| 1300 | seribu tigaratus | seribu tigaratus |
| 2000 | dua ribu | dua ribu |
| 10,000 | sepuluh ribu | sepuluh ribu |
| 100,000 | seratus ribu | seratus ribu |
| 1 million | sejuta / satu juta | sejuta / satu juta |
| 1 billion | satu bilion | semiliar / satu miliar |
| 1 trillion | satu trilion | setriliun / satu triliun |
Number data and information courtesy of Omniglot.
What Makes Indonesian Numbers Challenging
Indonesian numbers are remarkably straightforward — the biggest challenge is simply their unfamiliarity. The words are phonetic and regular, but longer numbers (ribu for thousand, juta for million) can take a moment to parse at speed. The prefix se- replaces satu (one) in compounds: seratus (100) not satu ratus, seribu (1000) not satu ribu. Zero has two forms: nol and kosong (empty), both used in phone contexts, which can initially confuse learners.
Tips for Learning Indonesian Numbers
Indonesian numbers are the easiest of any major language to learn. Memorize 1-10 and the combining rules, and you can handle any number. Practice the se- prefix for 100 (seratus), 1000 (seribu), and other round multiples. Get comfortable with both nol and kosong for zero. Indonesian pronunciation is completely phonetic — sounds match spelling consistently. This is an excellent first language for number practice.
Practice Indonesian Numbers
Reading about numbers is one thing — understanding them spoken at natural speed is another. Test your Indonesian number skills with our free listening game.
Play the Number Game