Indonesian · A1 (Beginner)
Work in Indonesian: Words & Phrases
Quick answer: The most useful Indonesian words for work are pekerjaan (work / job), kantor (office) and atasan / bos (boss / superior). The full Indonesian work phrase list with example sentences is below.
The essential Indonesian vocabulary for work, with example sentences and English translations. This is A1 (Beginner) material — exactly the kind of practical language you need when you're learning Indonesian to live, work, or settle abroad.
Source: Language Lab's Indonesian curriculum (vocabulary & example sentences). · Join the beta →
Key work vocabulary
| Indonesian | English |
|---|---|
| pekerjaan | work / job |
| kantor | office |
| atasan / bos | boss / superior |
| rekan kerja | colleague |
| bekerja | to work |
| posisi | position / job |
| gaji | salary |
| rapat | meeting |
| komputer | computer |
| lembur | overtime |
Example sentences
Saya naik MRT ke tempat kerja.
I take the MRT to work.
Saya bekerja di kantor di pusat kota.
I work in an office in the city centre.
Atasan saya sangat baik.
My boss is very nice.
Rekan kerja saya ramah.
My colleagues are friendly.
Saya bekerja dari jam sembilan sampai lima.
I work from nine to five.
Saya ada rapat jam dua.
I have a meeting at two.
How to actually learn these
Reading a vocabulary list is not the same as being able to use the words when it counts. Research on adult language acquisition consistently shows that vocabulary retained through contextual use — hearing a word, producing it under mild pressure, and being corrected when you get it wrong — transfers to real speech far more effectively than passive list review. The fastest way to make vocabulary like this stick is to practise it in the actual conversations where it comes up: not drills, but a real back-and-forth where you have to retrieve the word and say it aloud. Language Lab turns vocabulary like this into voiced, real-life scenarios with Sonia, a live AI language tutor who holds real conversations, corrects you in context, and remembers the specific words you keep getting wrong across sessions. The vocabulary stops being something you read and becomes something you say — automatically, under pressure, when you actually need it.
Practice Indonesian that actually sticks.
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