Indonesian · A2 (Elementary)
Time in Indonesian: Words & Phrases
Quick answer: The most useful Indonesian words for time are minggu (week), bulan (month) and tahun (year). The full Indonesian time phrase list with example sentences is below.
The essential Indonesian vocabulary for time, with example sentences and English translations. This is A2 (Elementary) 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 time vocabulary
| Indonesian | English |
|---|---|
| minggu | week |
| bulan | month |
| tahun | year |
| lusa | day after tomorrow |
| kemarin dulu | day before yesterday |
| musim | season |
| janji temu | appointment |
| batas waktu | deadline |
| tepat waktu | on time |
| terlambat | running late |
Example sentences
Saya bekerja lima hari seminggu.
I work five days a week.
Bulan depan saya pergi liburan.
Next month I am going on holiday.
Lusa saya ada janji temu.
The day after tomorrow I have an appointment.
Kemarin dulu hujan.
The day before yesterday it rained.
Saya ada janji temu dengan dokter.
I have an appointment at the doctor's.
Saya terlambat — maaf!
I am late — sorry!
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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