In this article, we’ll explore some of the most popular YouTube channels for learning Indonesian for free.
These channels can help you build your Indonesian language skills and communicate more confidently with Indonesian and Malaysian friends, as well as with people you meet through social media platforms such as Facebook.
Whether you’re a complete beginner or already have some knowledge of Indonesian, these YouTube channels offer a convenient and accessible way to practice the language and improve your everyday communication skills.
The Indonesian language is one of the most widely spoken languages in Southeast Asia. It is primarily spoken in Indonesia, while closely related varieties are also used in neighboring countries such as Malaysia, Brunei, Singapore, and parts of Thailand.
Indonesian and Malay also have communities of speakers in other parts of the world, making the language useful for communication across different countries and cultures.
If you’re interested in learning Indonesian, you’ll be glad to know that it is generally considered an accessible language for learners and shares many similarities with Malay.
Although Indonesian was historically influenced by the Arabic script, modern Indonesian is written using the Latin alphabet and has also adopted a number of words and expressions from English.
If you’re ready to start learning Indonesian and improve your everyday communication skills, all you need to do is follow the YouTube channels featured in this article and start learning at your own pace.
Think Bahasa
This channel features a wide range of educational playlists designed to help both beginners and more advanced learners build their Indonesian vocabulary and learn the essential words and phrases they need to start and maintain conversations with confidence.
For example, the Basic Bahasa Indonesia playlist covers essential topics such as:
- The alphabet
- Numbers
- Greetings
- Introducing yourself
- The 30 most commonly used questions
- Times of day
- Animal and fruit names
- Useful phrases for everyday conversations
Getting Around Indonesia in Indonesian
If you’re planning to visit Indonesia, the Getting Around Indonesia in Indonesian Language playlist can teach you practical phrases and vocabulary for everyday situations, including:
- Asking for and giving directions
- Names of places
- Asking a driver for a ride
- Getting from the airport to the city
- Names of buildings
- Using public transportation
- Transportation-related vocabulary
- Gas stations
- Traffic signs
- Car rentals
- Useful language for staying at a hotel
Learn Simple Indonesian Vocabulary Words
The Learn Simple Indonesian Vocabulary Words playlist covers a wide variety of everyday topics, making it useful for expanding your Indonesian vocabulary. Topics include:
- Fruits and vegetables
- Animals and flowers
- Nature
- Colors
- Country names
- Parts of the body
- Jobs and professions
- Hobbies
- New Year’s vocabulary
- Family members
- Furniture
- Education-related terms
- Places and buildings
- Hospitals and medical specialties
- School-related vocabulary
- Study and learning methods
- Baby essentials
- Tourist cities
- Days and months
- Parts of the house
- People and occupations
- Musical instruments
- Kitchen utensils
- Eating out
- Shopping vocabulary
- Cooking terms
- Talking about the weather
- Shapes
- Feelings and emotions
- Essential items for travelers
- Health-related vocabulary
- Daily activities
- Vegetable shopping
- Bathroom essentials
- Classroom items
- Food allergies and dietary restrictions
- Describing personality
- Spices and herbs
- Clothes shopping
- Basic baking ingredients
- Banking terms
- Beauty and cosmetics
- Car parts
- Currency exchange
- Personal care products
- Salad ingredients
- Vocabulary related to theft and emergencies
Beginner Indonesian Book Recommendations
The Beginner Indonesian Book Recommendations playlist introduces a selection of books and stories suitable for beginners learning Indonesian. These resources can help learners improve their reading skills while discovering new vocabulary in an engaging way.
Some of the recommended titles include:
- Annabell dan 5 Kelincinya
- Legenda Keong Mas
- The Story of Timun Mas Book Trailer
- The Story of Mayur
- Piruru Pelahap Mimpi Buruk
Indonesian Listening Comprehension
The Indonesian Listening Comprehension playlist is designed to help learners practice one of the most important language skills: listening comprehension. The playlist currently contains 13 videos, giving learners opportunities to listen to Indonesian in different contexts and improve their understanding of spoken language.
The channel also organizes vocabulary related to specific topics into separate playlists, making it easier to find the words and expressions you need for everyday communication, whether you’re studying Indonesian or planning to visit Indonesia someday.
Learning Indonesian Language for Beginners
This channel can help you master the essential Indonesian vocabulary you need to express yourself confidently in everyday situations. Each playlist focuses on a specific type of vocabulary, making it easier to understand how Indonesian words are formed and used.
For example, the NOUN (Kata Benda) playlist focuses on Indonesian nouns and explains how words can be transformed from verbs into nouns, helping learners understand common word-formation patterns.
In the Verbs – Kata Kerja playlist, you’ll learn about Indonesian word affixes and how they can be used to form verbs from root words. This makes the channel particularly useful for learners who want to go beyond memorizing individual words and understand how Indonesian vocabulary is constructed.
In the DAILY_EXPRESSIONS in Bahasa Indonesia playlist, you’ll learn useful everyday expressions, including how to express your feelings and introduce yourself in Indonesian.
Meanwhile, the SPELLING & SOUNDS of Indonesian Daily Vocabulary playlist focuses on pronunciation and spelling, helping you master the pronunciation of the Indonesian alphabet and improve your ability to pronounce everyday Indonesian words more accurately.
Learn Bahasa Indonesia with Qori
This channel offers a collection of educational playlists designed for anyone who wants to learn Indonesian from scratch. It currently features six playlists that can help you work through the first two levels of Indonesian and gradually build enough confidence to communicate with your Indonesian friends.
Learn Bahasa Indonesia Pronunciation
This playlist focuses on Indonesian pronunciation and teaches you how to pronounce the letters of the Indonesian alphabet. Indonesian uses 26 letters, including five vowels and the remaining consonants.
Learn Bahasa Indonesia Basic Nouns
This playlist introduces essential Indonesian nouns and everyday vocabulary related to topics such as:
- School supplies
- Items found in a room
- Dining and eating utensils
- Time
- Directions
- Books
- Transportation
- Jobs and professions
- Places and public spaces
- Age
- Food
- Colors
- Travel-related vocabulary
- Fruits
- Vegetables
- Drinks
- Electrical appliances
- Weather
- Places of worship
- Clothing
- Natural resources
- Geometric shapes
- Farm animals
- Parts of the head
- Cooking ingredients
Learn Bahasa Indonesia Basic Theory 101
Here, you’ll learn basic Indonesian grammar that can help you form simple and compound sentences for everyday communication. Topics include:
- Greetings
- Personal pronouns
- Counting and numbers
- Parts of speech
- Singular and plural forms
- Adjectives
- Verb conjugation
Learn Bahasa Indonesia Basic Conversation
This playlist helps you develop your Indonesian speaking skills through practical everyday situations, including:
- Meeting and introducing yourself
- Asking about the day
- Asking where something or someone is
- Calling someone
- Talking about languages
- Borrowing something
- Shopping
- Watching movies
- Talking about sleep
- Talking about siblings
- Offering and asking for help
- Asking about quantities and numbers
- Going on vacation
- Talking about the weather
- Expressing that you like something
- Asking the time
- Choosing between options
- Looking for a job
- Internet and data plans
Bahasa Indonesia for Traveling
If you’re planning to visit Indonesia, the Bahasa Indonesia for Traveling playlist can help you learn useful conversations and expressions related to travel, making it easier to communicate in common situations during your trip.
Learn Bahasa Indonesia with Songs
Finally, the Learn Bahasa Indonesia with Songs playlist uses songs and music videos as a fun and engaging way to learn Indonesian. It can help you expand your vocabulary, become familiar with natural pronunciation, and practice listening while enjoying Indonesian-language content.
Learning Indonesian can be more than just a way to communicate with local people—it can also open the door to new academic and scholarship opportunities in Indonesia.
If you’re planning to study in Indonesia, improving your Indonesian language skills can give you an important advantage when applying for opportunities such as the KNB Scholarship, scholarships offered through the Ministry of Religious Affairs, partial scholarships provided by Indonesian universities, or the Darmasiswa Scholarship Program.
So, why wait? Start learning Indonesian today, practice a little every day, and take the first step toward studying, living, and experiencing Indonesian culture firsthand. Your journey to Indonesia could start with just a few new Indonesian words!
And don’t forget to follow our website for more useful educational resources, scholarship opportunities, language-learning guides, and tips to help you achieve your academic goals in Indonesia.
