Language/Indonesian/Vocabulary/Animals

Indonesian Vocabulary - Animals

Hi Indonesian learners! 😊
In this lesson, we will learn about animals in Indonesian. Knowing the names of animals can be very useful when you are traveling in Indonesia or when you want to communicate with native speakers about your favorite animals. Animals are a big part of Indonesian culture and they appear in many traditional stories, songs and dances.

Take some time to dive into these other pages after completing this lesson: Parts of the Body, Fruits, Economics & Idiomatic Expressions.

Basic animal vocabulary

Let's start with some basic animal vocabulary. Here are some of the most common animals in Indonesian and their translations in English:

Indonesian	Pronunciation	English
burung	['bʊrʊŋ]	bird
kucing	['kuʧiŋ]	cat
anjing	['andʒiŋ]	dog
sapi	['sapi]	cow
kuda	['ku:da]	horse
babi	['babi]	pig
kambing	[kam'biŋ]	goat
ayam	['ajam]	chicken
ikan	['ikan]	fish
kerbau	['kɛrbau̯]	buffalo
tikus	['tikʊs]	mouse/rat
kura-kura	[kura-kura]	turtle
singa	['siŋga]	lion
gajah	['gadʒah]	elephant
ular	['ulaʀ]	snake

Note that the word "burung" can refer to any kind of bird, while "ayam" specifically means "chicken". Also, in Indonesian, there are separate words for "mouse" and "rat", even though in English we often use "mouse" for both.

Now let's practice using these words in context.

Dialogue

• Person 1: Apa hewan kesayanganmu? (What's your favorite animal?)
• Person 2: Saya suka kambing. (I like goats.)
• Person 1: Kenapa? (Why?)
• Person 2: Kambing lucu dan imut. (Goats are cute and adorable.)
• Person 1: Saya suka burung. (I like birds.)
• Person 2: Apa jenis burung favoritmu? (What's your favorite kind of bird?)
• Person 1: Saya suka burung hantu. (I like owls.)
• Person 2: Wah, bagus sekali! (Wow, that's great!)

Indonesian animals and their characteristics

In Indonesia, there are many animals that are unique to the archipelago. Here are some of them:

• Orangutan - Orangutans are found in the rainforests of Sumatra and Borneo. They are known for their reddish-brown hair and their intelligence. Orangutans are one of the closest relatives to humans in the animal kingdom.

• Komodo dragon - The Komodo dragon is the largest lizard in the world, and it is only found in Indonesia. These fearsome creatures can grow up to 10 feet long and are known for their deadly venom.

• Proboscis monkey - The proboscis monkey is found only in Borneo. It is known for its big nose and potbelly, which are unique characteristics that make it easy to identify.

• Bali starling - The Bali starling is a beautiful bird that is native to Bali. It is white with black tipped wings and a distinctive blue mask around its eyes. Unfortunately, it is also one of the most endangered birds in the world.

Dialogue

• Person 1: Apa hewan yang hanya ditemukan di Indonesia? (What animal is only found in Indonesia?)
• Person 2: Buaya Komodo, saya pikir. (The Komodo dragon, I think.)
• Person 1: Itu benar! Apa ciri khasnya? (That's right! What are its unique characteristics?)
• Person 2: Kulitnya kasar dan mereka bisa mematikan dengan bisanya. (They have rough skin and can kill with their venom.)
• Person 1: Ada lagi hewan yang unik di Indonesia? (Are there any other unique animals in Indonesia?)
• Person 2: Ada, misalnya monyet bekantan yang punya hidung besar dan perut buncit. (Yes, for example, the proboscis monkey which has a big nose and a potbelly.)

Animal idioms and expressions

Like in every culture, animals play a role in Indonesian idioms and expressions. Here are some examples:

• Bagai kucing dan tikus (Like cats and mice): used to describe a situation where two people or groups are always fighting or arguing with each other, like a cat and a mouse.

• Seperti ayam kehilangan sarung (Like a chicken losing its sarong): used to describe a situation where someone forgets something or is unprepared.

• Kambing hitam (Black goat): used to describe the scapegoat in a situation, or the person who is blamed for something.

• Teler seperti gajah (Drunk like an elephant): used to describe someone who is very drunk.

• Ikan di air asin (A fish in salty water): used to describe someone who is in a situation that they don't like, or who is uncomfortable or unhappy.

Dialogue

• Person 1: Saya lupa membawa baju renang. (I forgot to bring my swimsuit.)
• Person 2: Oh tidak! Sekarang mau melakukan apa? (Oh no! What are you going to do now?)
• Person 1: Saya harus beli baju renang baru sekarang. Saya seperti ayam kehilangan sarung. (I have to buy a new swimsuit now. I'm like a chicken losing its sarong.)
• Person 2: Jangan khawatir, kita akan menemukan toko yang menjual baju renang. (Don't worry, we'll find a store that sells swimsuits.)

Animal-related cultural references

In Indonesian culture, animals play an important role in traditional stories, songs and rituals. Here are some examples:

• Barong dance - The Barong is a mythical creature that represents good in Balinese folklore. The Barong dance is a traditional dance that is performed to drive away evil spirits.

• Wayang kulit - Wayang kulit is a type of shadow puppetry that is popular in Java and Bali. Many of the characters in the wayang kulit stories are animals, such as Hanuman the monkey god and Tualen the wise old monkey.

• Javanese calendar - In the Javanese calendar, each year is named after an animal. For example, 2022 is the year of the tiger (tahun macan). This reflects the importance of animals in Javanese culture and the belief that animals have certain characteristics that influence the fate of people born in that year.

Dialogue

• Person 1: Apa tari tradisional di Bali yang melibatkan hewan? (What is the traditional dance in Bali that involves animals?)
• Person 2: Tari Barong, saya pikir. (The Barong dance, I think.)
• Person 1: Benar! Apa yang Barong wakili? (That's right! What does Barong represent?)
• Person 2: Barong melambangkan kebaikan dan selalu melawan Roh Jahat. (Barong represents goodness and always fights against Evil Spirits.)

Conclusion

That brings us to the end of our lesson about animals in Indonesian! We hope you have learned some new vocabulary and interesting facts about Indonesian animals. Remember, if you want to improve your Indonesian vocabulary further, you can always visit the Polyglot Club website. Find native speakers and ask them any questions! 🐾

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➡ If you have any questions, please ask them in the comments section below.
➡ Feel free to edit this wiki page if you think it can be improved. 😎

Excellent job on conquering this lesson! Consider delving into these related pages: Seasons, Days of the week in Indonesian, Health & Transportation.

Other Lessons

• People in Indonesian
• Basic Phrases in Indonesian
• Geography
• Family
• Numbers
• Vegetables
• Birthday
• Time
• Body
• Problems in Indonesian

Sources

• Indonesian Animal Words: The Ultimate Vocabulary List
• Learn Indonesian - Lesson 8: Animals | L-Lingo
• Indonesian games and flashcards: learn Indonesian online for free