What are the Differences Between Indonesian and Malay? A Thorough Explanation of the Relationship and Learning Tips

What are the differences between Indonesian and Malaysian?

Indonesian and Malaysian (Malay)—these two languages seem very similar at first glance.

If you have traveled through Southeast Asia, you may have noticed that similar words are used in both Indonesia and Malaysia.

Many people who are interested in the cultures of Indonesia or Malaysia must be wondering, "Which one should I study?"

In this article, we will provide an easy-to-understand explanation of the differences and relationship between Indonesian and Malaysian (Malay), covering everything from historical backgrounds to actual usage scenarios!

While Indonesian and Malaysian share the same roots, they have each undergone their own unique development.

By reading this article, you will be able to gain a deeper understanding of Indonesian and Malaysian.

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Ondoku can read aloud in over 48 different languages.

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Since you can read up to 5,000 characters for free, it can be used in various situations, from studying Indonesian and Malaysian to creating YouTube video narrations in those languages.

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Are Indonesian and Malaysian Similar? Explaining Differences and Relationships

Have you ever heard that Indonesian and Malaysian are very similar languages?

In fact, we often hear from people who have traveled to Southeast Asia that "the same kind of words were understood in both Indonesia and Malaysia."

So, what kind of differences are there between Indonesian and Malaysian?

Indonesian and Malaysian are "Similar but Not the Same" Languages

To give the answer first, Indonesian and Malaysian are "similar but not the same" languages.

For example, someone who speaks standard Japanese (Kanto dialect) might experience hearing Satsuma or Tsugaru dialects and roughly understanding the meaning but not fully comprehending it.

Also, between the Kanto and Kansai dialects of Japan, there are cases where specific usage of words, such as greetings or proper nouns, differs.

The relationship between Indonesian and Malaysian is somewhat similar to that sensation.

However, the difference is that they are recognized as the standard languages of separate countries, rather than dialects.

To use other languages as an example, it is said that there is more difference than between British English and American English, yet they are closer than Spanish and Portuguese.

Many travelers have experienced that "studying Indonesian worked in Malaysia too."

Conversely, there are cases where "learning Malaysian allowed me to get by in Indonesia somehow."

However, in many cases, it doesn't mean perfect communication was achieved.

• Encountering unknown words when reading a menu at a restaurant
• Being unable to understand what a taxi driver is saying

These situations are not uncommon.

When deciding whether to learn Indonesian or Malaysian, this "similar but different" distinction and relationship is an important point.

How Many People Speak Indonesian and Malaysian?

Next, we will briefly introduce how many people speak Indonesian and Malaysian.

Indonesian Speakers Exceed 200 Million!

Indonesian is a language used by more than 200 million people.

Indonesia's population is approximately 280 million, ranking 4th in the world.

Since Indonesian is the common language, almost all Indonesians can understand and speak Indonesian.

The most significant characteristic of Indonesian is that it is considered an important language for unifying Indonesia into a single nation.

In Indonesia, over 700 regional languages such as Javanese, Sundanese, and Balinese coexist, but Indonesian was chosen as the common language instead of any of those.

This was to prevent any specific language (and ethnic group) from dominating the country.

Therefore, for many Indonesian citizens, Indonesian is not their native language, and it is not uncommon for it to be a second language used in formal settings.

However, in recent years, the number of people who speak Indonesian as their first language has been increasing.

Thus, Indonesian is one of the most spoken languages in Southeast Asia.

Globally, Indonesian is a language that ranks within the top 10 in terms of the number of speakers.

Approximately 25 Million Speakers of Malaysian (Malay)

The number of Malaysian (Malay) speakers is estimated at approximately 25 million.

Malaysia has a population of about 33 million and is a multi-ethnic nation consisting of approximately 69% Malay, 23% Chinese, and 7% Indian.

As the national language, Malaysian (Malay) is studied by all citizens in school.

There are also Malay speakers in Singapore and Brunei.

Particularly in Singapore, Malay is one of the official languages, and the lyrics of the national anthem are written in Malay.

Additionally, dialects of Malay are spoken in the three southern provinces of Thailand (Pattani, Yala, Narathiwat) and on Mindanao Island in the southern Philippines.

While there are differences between Indonesian and Malaysian, looking at the Malay-speaking world as a whole, it is an important language used across a vast region.

What are the Differences Between Indonesian and Malaysian? Differences in Expression Seen in Words

A clear example where you can feel the differences and relationship between Indonesian and Malaysian is through words used frequently in daily life.

Let's look at specific examples where "different words are used for the same meaning."

What is the Reason for the Differences in Vocabulary Between Indonesian and Malaysian?

The major reason for the differences between Indonesian and Malaysian lies in the history of the colonial era.

In Indonesia, which was under Dutch rule, and Malaysia, which was under British rule, different loanwords were introduced respectively.

As a result, differences emerged in words referring to exactly the same things.

Furthermore, the fact that Indonesia and Malaysia developed Indonesian and Malaysian as their own unique languages after becoming independent after World War II is also related to the differences in vocabulary.

What are the Differences Between Indonesian and Malaysian Seen from Everyday Terms?

Specifically, what kind of differences are there in vocabulary?

For example, when you go shopping, you need a pouch or bag to put your items in, right?

This bag is called:

• "tas" in Indonesian, derived from Dutch
• "beg" in Malaysian, derived from English

Also, the towel used after a bath is called:

• "handuk" in Indonesian, derived from Dutch
• "tuala" in Malaysian, derived from English

These two examples were differences derived from Dutch and English.

In addition, there are differences born from Indonesian and Malaysian developing separately.

For instance, a mobile phone is called "ponsel" in Indonesian.

This is a word abbreviated from "telepon seluler" (cellular phone).

On the other hand, in Malaysian, it is called "telefon bimbit."

Bimbit is a Malay word meaning "to carry," so it means "a phone that can be carried."

In this way, differences between Indonesian and Malaysian continue to be newly created even in modern times.

Are Indonesian and Malaysian Mutually Intelligible?

As shown, there are differences in vocabulary and expressions between Indonesian and Malaysian.

However, basic mutual understanding is possible.

Linguistically, it is estimated that approximately 60 to 70 percent of the vocabulary is shared between both languages.

Differences between Indonesian and Malaysian are particularly minimal in formal settings, such as news programs, official documents, and academic texts.

This is because there is a history of both countries working together on language standardization.

In business and academic fields, communication can often be achieved without being conscious of the differences between Indonesian and Malaysian.

Caution is Needed for Daily Conversation Differences

However, in casual daily conversation, there are often many differences between Indonesian and Malaysian.

When slang, youth speak, and regional dialects that developed uniquely in each country are mixed in, communication becomes difficult.

Watching TV programs or YouTube videos makes these differences very clear.

In basic business or travel situations, communication is possible despite the differences between Indonesian and Malaysian.

However, if you want to build a deeper relationship or speak about more specialized content, it is recommended to study the other person's language thoroughly.

Which One is Ultimately Recommended to Study, Indonesian or Malaysian?

Based on the relationship explained so far, which one is recommended to learn, Indonesian or Malaysian?

What are the Merits of Choosing Indonesian?

First, let's introduce the merits of choosing Indonesian.

The greatest advantage of learning Indonesian is that the number of speakers is overwhelmingly large.

Being able to communicate with over 200 million people is a very significant attraction.

Indonesia's economic growth is remarkable, and it is predicted to become one of the world's leading economic powers in the 2030s.

Business opportunities are abundant, and the expansion of Japanese companies is active.

There are many attractive tourist destinations, including Bali and Jakarta.

The abundance of learning materials is also related to the merit of choosing Indonesian.

Because there are many speakers, options such as textbooks, online materials, and language schools are plentiful.

If you want to connect with more people, choosing Indonesian is recommended.

What are the Merits of Choosing Malaysian?

On the other hand, there are also many merits to choosing Malaysian (Malay).

Malaysia is a country with a stable economy within Southeast Asia.

It is very attractive to learn a language that is usable in multiple countries, including Singapore and Brunei.

Since Malaysian is strongly influenced by English, it is characterized by having much vocabulary that is easy for English speakers to become familiar with.

Additionally, since Malaysia is a multi-ethnic nation where English and Chinese are also widely understood, it is an advantage for those with experience learning English or Chinese as it is easy to get used to.

For those considering business in Malaysia or long-term stays, learning Malaysian is a recommended choice.

If You Learn One, It Is Easy to Master the Other

Although there are differences between Indonesian and Malaysian, they are deeply related languages and share the same foundation.

If you master one, it is easy to learn the other language.

Since the grammatical structure is the same, you just need to remember the differences in vocabulary and pronunciation.

For example, even if you move to Malaysia after learning Indonesian, you can sufficiently master Malaysian in a few months.

If you become able to use both while being conscious of the differences between Indonesian and Malaysian, you will be able to communicate across a wide area of Southeast Asia.

Recommended Learning Methods for Indonesian and Malaysian

How can I learn Indonesian or Malaysian?

Next, we will introduce recommended learning methods for Indonesian and Malaysian (Malay)!

Listening, Speaking, and Shadowing are Recommended

For both Indonesian and Malaysian, it is recommended to learn using audio.

The differences between Indonesian and Malaysian cannot be understood without actually hearing and speaking them.

Particularly for learning differences in pronunciation, listening, speaking, and shadowing are very important.

By listening to the pronunciation of native speakers and imitating it, you can learn living Indonesian or Malaysian (Malay).

Shadowing is Recommended for Learning Indonesian and Malaysian!

To acquire Indonesian or Malaysian, we recommend incorporating shadowing into your studies.

Shadowing is a learning method that combines listening and speaking.

The method for shadowing is simple.

1. Listen to the audio
2. Pronounce it in the same way with a slight delay

That's it.

If it's too fast, start with slow audio and gradually increase the speed.

By incorporating shadowing into your learning, you will be able to speak Indonesian and Malaysian with natural pronunciation.

However, high-quality audio materials are necessary for shadowing practice.

By creating native-speaker pronunciation audio materials with the latest AI service Ondoku, you can perform shadowing with materials perfect for you, such as for travel or business.

Shadowing is also explained in this article. Please take a look.

【Complete Guide】How to do English Shadowing? Explaining how to create free teaching materials!｜Text Reading Software Ondoku

Efficiently improve your English skills with shadowing! Explaining a learning method for beginners that improves listening, pronunciation, and speaking simultaneously. We also introduce how to create materials with free AI voices.

Ondoku is Recommended for Learning Indonesian and Malaysian!

If you are studying Indonesian or Malaysian, Ondoku is recommended!

Ondoku is an AI reading service that can generate audio with native pronunciation.

You can freely create audio materials optimal for listening, speaking, and shadowing.

You can listen to audio samples for Indonesian and Malay from Ondoku in these articles, so please take a look.

For learning Indonesian and Javanese and confirming pronunciation! Audio sample listening & how to use free text reading 'Ondoku'｜Text Reading Software Ondoku

You can listen to Indonesian and Javanese audio samples available on Ondoku. Confirming pronunciation is essential for smooth communication with Indonesian and Javanese speakers. In such cases, Ondoku is recommended! With the text-to-speech service, it will read the text you input with native pronunciation.

For pronunciation confirmation and listening in Malaysia/Malay study! Listening to native pronunciation with 2 types of speakers (female and male voices)｜Text Reading Software Ondoku

Here, you can listen to Malaysian/Malay audio from Ondoku. Voices include both female and male voices. Please use them for narration, work training, presentations, and learning.

Furthermore, Ondoku is free!

Since you can read as many as 5,000 characters for free, you can easily create teaching materials right now.

Why not use Ondoku to study Indonesian or Malaysian?

Why are Indonesian and Malaysian Similar? Explaining the Relationship Between the Two Languages

There are historical reasons why Indonesian and Malaysian are similar.

We will further explain the relationship between the two languages from a historical perspective.

Developed from the Malay Language of the Malacca Sultanate

The reason for the relationship between Indonesian and Malaysian is the shared history of both languages.

From the 15th to the 16th century, the Malacca Sultanate flourished in the region including Indonesia and Malaysia.

During this era, Malay functioned as the common language for this entire region.

In Malacca, where merchants from Arabia, Persia, India, and China gathered, Malay was essential for trade.

With the prosperity of the Malacca Sultanate, Classical Malay became refined and developed as a language of literature and administration.

The influence of Islamic culture was also significant, and many Arabic and Persian words were incorporated into Malay.

The Malay language of this era has become the common ancestor of modern Indonesian and Malaysian.

The Difference Between the Two Languages is Related to Colonial Rule

The major turning point where the differences between Indonesian and Malaysian emerged is related to colonial rule by various European countries.

In the 16th century, Portugal conquered Malacca, and later the Dutch came to rule Indonesia while the British ruled the Malay Peninsula.

Because the Dutch ruled Indonesia for over 300 years, the Dutch language had a major influence on the language.

On the other hand, on the Malay Peninsula, which was under British rule, the language was also strongly influenced by English.

This became a major factor in creating the current differences between Indonesian and Malaysian.

Indonesia Made Indonesian the Unified Language

In 1928, Indonesian youth declared the "Youth Pledge" and decided to adopt Indonesian as the unified language.

In Indonesia, various languages were used in different regions, starting with Javanese, but by choosing Indonesian—based on Malay—as the unified language instead of any of those, they ensured that no specific ethnic group would hold linguistic or political dominance over the others.

As a result, while being based on Malay, Indonesia's unique national language was born.

This historical decision also became a turning point where Indonesian and Malaysian began to walk separate paths.

Relationship Between Modern Indonesian and Malaysian

Additionally, the fact that Indonesia and Malaysia have developed them as separate national languages after independence is also a reason why differences arose between the two languages.

Indonesia is flexible toward language and has an attitude of actively accepting new words.

There is a tendency to incorporate loanwords from foreign languages one after another as needed.

On the other hand, Malaysia took a different approach.

Malaysia is also a multi-ethnic nation where various ethnic groups such as Malay, Chinese, and Indian coexist.

However, in language policy, there was a tendency in Malaysia to try to maintain the purity of traditional Malay.

In Malaysia, rather than using loanwords as they are, there is an effort to create new words in Malay as much as possible.

The difference between Indonesian and Malaysian is also related to these different ways of thinking about language.

In this way, differences between Indonesian and Malaysian continue to be born not only in the past but also in the present.

Learning Indonesian or Malaysian is also about understanding the culture, values, and history of each country.

Whichever you choose, Indonesian or Malaysian, you can touch the story of the rich history behind it.

Knowing the Differences and Relationships is Recommended for Learning Indonesian and Malaysian

In this article, we explained the differences and relationships between Indonesian and Malaysian.

Indonesian and Malaysian have common roots, but they are languages that have independently developed their own pronunciations, vocabularies, and expressions.

At the daily conversation level, differences exist that require caution.

Whether you learn Indonesian or Malaysian depends on your purpose.

Whichever you choose, it can be widely useful for travel and business in Southeast Asia.

If you are studying Indonesian or Malaysian, it is recommended to utilize the latest AI service Ondoku.

Why not use Ondoku's free reading feature to learn Indonesian or Malaysian?

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