Collection of cute Indonesian words and phrases! Introducing cute-sounding words and compliments like "beautiful" and "pretty"

Jan. 26, 2026

Collection of cute Indonesian words and phrases! Introducing cute-sounding words and compliments like "beautiful" and "pretty"


I want to know cute words and lovely phrases in Indonesian!
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In this article, we will introduce cute words in Indonesian!

We will explain everything from "cute words" that make you happy just by saying them aloud, to compliments that enliven conversations with local people, such as "You are cute," "It is beautiful," and "You are a beauty."

Indonesian has many interesting words, so the more you know, the more fun learning Indonesian becomes.

Why not learn your favorite cute Indonesian words and start using Indonesian more familiarly?

[Free] Recommended AI Services for Learning Indonesian

Ondoku

If you want to learn cute words and lovely phrases in Indonesian, we recommend "Ondoku"!

"Ondoku" is an AI service that can read aloud Indonesian text using the latest AI.

Surprisingly, you can create Indonesian audio with native pronunciation for free!

Why don't you also use "Ondoku" for free to learn the pronunciation of cute and lovely Indonesian words?

The sound is just so cute! Indonesian words with many repetitions

The sound is just so cute! Indonesian words with many repetitions

First, we will introduce words with cute sounds.

In Indonesian, there are many cute words where the same word is repeated twice.

We have picked out several Indonesian words with cute sounds or interesting pronunciations to explain!

Many animal names are cute words like "XX-XX"

When it comes to cute words in Indonesian, animal names are the first to mention.

Many repeated words and interesting words are used for animal names.

For example, "Kupu-kupu" is a word with a very cute sound meaning "butterfly."

It is a truly lovely word, as the cute sound seems to convey the image of it fluttering as it flies.

There are also many other cute or interesting words, such as "Kura-kura" meaning "turtle," "Lumba-lumba" referring to a "dolphin," and "Cumi-cumi" meaning "squid."

In many cases, these same words and phrases are used not only in Indonesian but also in Malay.

Indonesian Meaning Katakana Audio
kupu-kupu Butterfly クプクプ
kura-kura Turtle クラクラ
lumba-lumba Dolphin ルンバルンバ
cumi-cumi Squid チュミチュミ

Cute words and interesting sounds useful in daily conversation

There are also many words with cute sounds among the Indonesian words frequently used in daily conversation!

An interesting word you will definitely use if you go on a trip is "Oleh-oleh."

This is the Indonesian word for "souvenir."

To a Japanese ear, it might sound like a surprising or funny phrase, but locally, conversations like "Did you buy oleh-oleh?" are common.

In dining situations, you might encounter the interesting term "Gado-gado."

"Gado-gado" is an Indonesian-style salad with steamed vegetables and peanut sauce.

The original meaning of the word has a nuance of "mix-mix," making it an interesting term.

Also, "Hati-hati," often used when parting, is a very lovely phrase with a cute sound.

"Hati" means "heart," but repeating it twice gives it the meaning of "be careful."

It is a truly wonderful phrase where the feeling of caring for the other person is gently conveyed through the rhythm of the Indonesian word.

Words used in daily Indonesian conversation are also often understood in Malay.

Indonesian Meaning Katakana Audio
oleh-oleh Souvenir オレオレ
gado-gado Gado-gado (Dish name) ガドガド
hati-hati Be careful ハティハティ

Indonesian words that are lovely in both meaning and sound

Besides repeated words, there are Indonesian words that make you think, "What a lovely word," once you know the meaning.

"Cinta" is a wonderful word meaning "love."

The sound is cute and it often appears in Indonesian song lyrics, so it is a word you should definitely remember.

Also, "Bintang" is a lovely word meaning "star."

While it is famous as a brand of beer, its beautiful sound also makes it a cute word.

Furthermore, you might have heard the word "Matahari," which means "sun."

Literally translated, "Mata" (eye) and "Hari" (day) make it "the eye of the day."

Expressing the sun in the sky as the "eye of the day" is very poetic and lovely, isn't it?

Indonesian Meaning Katakana Audio
cinta Love チンタ
bintang Star ビンタン
matahari Sun マタハリ

How do you say "cute" or "beautiful" in Indonesian? Explaining the usage

How do you say 'cute' or 'beautiful' in Indonesian? Explaining the usage

So far, we have introduced words with "cute sounds."

Next, we will explain Indonesian words that mean "cute" or "beautiful"!

In Japanese, you can use the word "kawaii" (cute) for people, pets, and small items.

However, in Indonesian, you need to use different words for "pretty," "beautiful," and "cute" depending on the subject.

Using the wrong Indonesian word might give the wrong impression, so it is recommended to properly learn compliments like "pretty" and "beautiful" for better communication.

"Lucu": An Indonesian word representing "cute" broadly

The most common word representing "cute" that can be used in a wide range of situations is "Lucu."

It is used when saying "cute" to babies, children, pets, character goods, and small items.

If you want to say "That's cute," you can say "Aduh, lucu banget!" which becomes a compliment meaning "Wow, that's so cute!"

However, this Indonesian word "Lucu" also includes the meaning of "funny."

When you see a comedian and say "Lucu," it means an "interesting phrase" or a "funny person," so the interpretation changes slightly depending on the context.

Also, the usage of this word is slightly different between Indonesian and Malay, so it is recommended to be careful (this will be explained later in this article).

"Imut": A word for "cute" that is small and adorable

"Imut" is an Indonesian word used when you want to emphasize the nuance of being "small and adorable" even more than the word "Lucu."

This is a recommended word for expressing the kind of "cute" that makes you want to protect something, such as a tiny kitten or a waddling baby.

In recent youth slang, it is sometimes used when someone wants to present themselves as cute.

If you want to convey a cute charm, why not choose this cute word?

"Cantik" is recommended for telling a woman she is "pretty," "beautiful," or "cute"

"Cantik" is a compliment for women meaning "pretty," "beautiful," or "cute."

It is an Indonesian word that serves as the ultimate compliment for a woman, meaning "beauty," "pretty," or "cute."

Actually, care is needed when complimenting a woman in Indonesian by saying "You are cute" or "You are beautiful."

You should not use "Lucu," which generally means "cute."

If you say "Lucu" to an adult woman, it might be interpreted as "(childishly) cute" or "(droll and) funny."

For a compliment expressing physical beauty as "pretty" or "beautiful," "Cantik" is recommended.

For a "beautiful" or "pretty" woman, please use this compliment without hesitation.

What words are recommended for a "pretty" man?

By the way, there is also an Indonesian word for describing a man's appearance as "pretty" or "beautiful (well-featured)."

The common word is "Ganteng," which is the male counterpart to the female compliment "Cantik," meaning "handsome" or "cool."

"Ganteng" is used for what might be called a beautiful youth.

Since using "Cantik" for a man implies that he is feminine, it is recommended not to use it.

"Indah": A word for "beautiful" or "pretty" scenery or objects

When you want to say "It's beautiful" or "It's pretty" about things other than women, such as landscapes, works of art, or words, you use the word "Indah."

For example, if you are moved by a sunset in Bali, you would express it as "Pemandangan yang indah" (What a beautiful view).

While "Cantik" is mainly used for telling a woman she is "beautiful" or "pretty," "Indah" differs in that it can be used for scenery, memories, poetic expressions, and other abstract beauties or "pretty" things.

Spelling Meaning Katakana Audio Player
lucu Cute, Funny ルチュ
imut Small and cute イムッ
cantik Beautiful, Pretty チャンティック
ganteng Handsome ガンテン
indah Beautiful (scenery, etc.) インダ

Related articles on learning Indonesian words

In this article, we introduce words you definitely want to remember for Indonesian language learning, complete with audio and Katakana.

Please take a look.

Compliment phrases you can use right away! Introducing "You are cute"

Compliment phrases you can use right away! Introducing 'You are cute'

Once you've learned some Indonesian words, try using "compliments" in actual conversation!

Indonesian people love to compliment each other, saying things like "You are cute," "You are pretty," or "You are beautiful."

By honestly conveying compliments like "You are cute," "That's a lovely phrase," or "It's beautiful," you can significantly close the distance between your hearts.

Compliment phrases for "You are cute" to praise the person or their belongings

First is a simple compliment phrase meaning "You are cute" that can be used as a greeting.

When you want to tell a woman, "You look cute (pretty, beautiful) today," these expressions are recommended.

  • Kamu cantik hari ini.
  • (Kamu Cantik Hari Ini)

Literally translated, it means "You are a beauty today" or "You are pretty today," a classic compliment.

If the other person has a lovely bag or clothes, it is also recommended to praise their belongings as "cute."

  • Tas ini lucu banget.
  • (Tas Ini Lucu Bangget)

This is a compliment meaning "This bag is really cute."

No one is unhappy to be told their belongings are "cute."

In this way, "You are cute" in Indonesian is a very easy-to-use compliment phrase as a conversation starter.

Sweet? Cool? Compliments with interesting nuances

There are also other compliments in Indonesian with unique and interesting meanings or lovely meanings.

For example, the word "Manis."

Originally, it is a word meaning that sugar or sweets are "sweet," but it is also often used to praise someone's smile.

  • Senyumnya manis.
  • (Senyomnya Manis)

Used like this, it becomes a compliment meaning "Your smile is lovely (a sweet smile)."

It is a word often used for people who are charming and attractive rather than just "beautiful" or "pretty."

Also, when using "Ganteng," which means a man is "cool" or "handsome," this compliment phrase is recommended:

  • Kamu ganteng banget.
  • (Kamu Ganteng Bangget)

If you say this, the man will be shy but happy.

Related articles on Indonesian greetings and daily conversation

In this article, we introduce expressions for Indonesian greetings and daily conversations with audio.

Please take a look.

Bonus: Is "cute" different in Indonesian and Malay?

We will also explain "Malay," a language very similar to Indonesian.

Malay (Malaysian language), spoken in Indonesia's neighbor Malaysia, is a language in a sibling-like relationship with Indonesian.

However, there are slight differences in the words and phrases for "cute" between Indonesian and Malay.

While the word "Cantik" meaning "beautiful" or "pretty" is understood in Malay, the word "Comel" is often used in Malay when saying "cute" in daily life.

Malay and Indonesian are similar languages, but preferred words and the nuances of "pretty," "beautiful," and "cute" can be subtly different.

Knowing the differences between Indonesian and Malay words and phrases makes learning even more fun!

Recommended methods for learning cute Indonesian words and lovely phrases

Since Indonesian can often be understood by reading it as it's written in Roman letters, it is said to have many words that are easy for Japanese people to pronounce.

However, the cute sound and rhythm of the words are hard to grasp just by looking at the letters.

In such cases, learning using an AI text-to-speech service is recommended.

Why not learn cute Indonesian pronunciation with "Ondoku"?

When learning cute words, lovely phrases, compliments, or interesting words in Indonesian, it is recommended to actually listen to a native speaker's pronunciation!

In those situations, the AI text-to-speech service "Ondoku" is useful.

Ondoku

"Ondoku" is an AI service that can create Indonesian audio with native speaker pronunciation using the latest AI.

You can create Indonesian audio just by entering text.

It is very easy to use.

First, enter the content you want to learn, such as Indonesian words, sentences, or compliment phrases like "You are cute," into the text box.

Enter into the text box

Set the language to "Indonesia (Indonesia)."

Set the language

Select the type of voice (female, male) (audio samples here).

Select the voice

Then just press the read button.

In just a few seconds, Indonesian audio with native speaker pronunciation is created.

Audio creation complete

You can listen to the cute sounds of Indonesian words over and over again to learn.

For learning Indonesian words and phrases, the AI text-to-speech service "Ondoku" is recommended!

Why don't you also use "Ondoku" for free to learn cute Indonesian words and lovely phrases?

Indonesian is full of cute words!

Indonesian has many words with cute sounds, as well as compliments and lovely phrases that make the other person feel happy.

By knowing words with cute sounds and lovely phrases with wonderful meanings, you can feel much closer to the Indonesian language.

When there's a word you're interested in, such as a compliment like "You are cute," "pretty," or "beautiful," or a slightly unusual or interesting word, it is recommended to enter it into "Ondoku" and actually listen to it.

You'll surely come to love learning Indonesian words and phrases even more.

We hope your Indonesian language learning becomes even more enjoyable and fulfilling!

■ AI voice synthesis software "Ondoku"

"Ondoku" is an online text-to-speech tool that can be used with no initial costs.

  • Supports approximately 50 languages, including Japanese, English, Chinese, Korean, Spanish, French, and German
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Text-to-speech software "Ondoku" can read out 5000 characters every month with AI voice for free. You can easily download MP3s and commercial use is also possible. If you sign up for free, you can convert up to 5,000 characters per month for free from text to speech. Try Ondoku now.
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