Indonesian · A2 (Elementary)
Work in Indonesian: Words & Phrases
Quick answer: The most useful Indonesian words for work are kontrak kerja (employment contract), gaji (salary) and cuti tahunan (annual leave). 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 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 work vocabulary
| Indonesian | English |
|---|---|
| kontrak kerja | employment contract |
| gaji | salary |
| cuti tahunan | annual leave |
| lembur | overtime |
| mengundurkan diri | to resign |
| merekrut | to hire |
| kontrak permanen | permanent contract |
| kontrak sementara | fixed-term contract |
| wawancara kerja | job interview |
| kerja jarak jauh | remote work |
Example sentences
Saya menandatangani kontrak kerja baru.
I signed a new employment contract.
Gaji saya tiga belas juta rupiah.
My salary is thirteen million rupiah.
Saya punya dua belas hari cuti tahunan.
I have twelve days annual leave.
Saya mendapatkan kontrak permanen.
I got a permanent contract.
Saya ingin mengundurkan diri.
I want to resign.
Saya kerja jarak jauh dua hari seminggu.
I work remotely two days a week.
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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