What are the differences between Indonesian and Malaysian? A thorough explanation of the relationship between the two languages and key points to remember when learning them

What are the differences between Indonesian and Malaysian?

Indonesian and Malaysian (Malay) are two languages that at first glance appear very similar.

If you have traveled to Southeast Asia, you may have noticed that Indonesia and Malaysia use similar words.

There are probably many people who are interested in Indonesian and Malaysian culture and are wondering, "Which should I study?"

In this article, we will explain in an easy-to-understand manner the differences and relationship between Indonesian and Malaysian (Malay) , from historical background to actual usage situations!

Although Indonesian and Malaysian languages share the same roots, they have each developed independently.

By reading this article, you will learn more about Indonesian and Malaysian languages.

[Free] Latest AI services recommended for learning Indonesian and Malaysian

If you're learning Indonesian or Malaysian , we recommend the AI reading service "Ondoku" !

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"Ondoku" can be read aloud in over 48 different languages.

We support a wide range of languages, including Indonesian and Malaysian, as well as Javanese, which is spoken in Indonesia, and Cantonese, which is used by Chinese people in Malaysia.

What's more, "Ondoku" is free!

It can read out 5,000 characters for free , so it can be used in a variety of situations, from learning Indonesian or Malaysian to creating narration for YouTube videos in Indonesian or Malaysian.

If you are studying Indonesian or Malaysian, why not try using "Ondoku" for free to improve your listening and speaking skills?

Are Indonesian and Malaysian similar? Explaining the differences and relationships

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

In fact, I often hear from people who have traveled to Southeast Asia that they were able to understand similar words in Indonesia and Malaysia.

So what are the differences between Indonesian and Malaysian?

Indonesian and Malaysian are similar but not the same

First of all, the answer is that Indonesian and Malaysian are "similar but not the same" languages .

For example, someone who speaks standard Japanese (Kanto dialect) may have the experience of hearing Satsuma dialect or Tsugaru dialect and being able to roughly understand the meaning but not completely comprehend it.

Additionally, there are subtle differences in the use of words, such as greetings and proper nouns, between the Kanto and Kansai dialects of Japan.

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

However, the difference is that they are not dialects, but are recognized as standard languages of different countries.

To give an example of other languages, it is said that there are more differences between them than between British English and American English, but closer than between Spanish and Portuguese .

Many travelers have had the experience of learning Indonesian and then being able to communicate in Malaysia.

On the other hand, there are also cases where people say, "Once I learned Malaysian, I was able to get by in Indonesia."

However, there are many cases where communication is not perfect.

• When reading a menu at a restaurant, there are words I don't know.
• I can't understand what the taxi driver is saying

This is not uncommon.

When deciding whether to learn Indonesian or Malaysian, these "similar but different" differences and relationships are an important point to consider.

How many people speak Indonesian and Malaysian?

Next, we will give you a brief overview of how many people speak Indonesian and Malaysian.

Indonesian is spoken by over 200 million people!

Indonesian is a language spoken by over 200 million people .

Indonesia has a population of approximately 280 million, making it the fourth largest in the world.

Indonesian is the lingua franca, meaning that most Indonesians can understand and speak it.

The most distinctive feature of Indonesian is that it is a language that is considered important in unifying the country of Indonesia .

Indonesia is home to over 700 regional languages, including Javanese, Sundanese, and Balinese, but the country has chosen to use Indonesian as its common language.

This is to prevent a particular language (and ethnicity) from dominating the country.

As a result, many Indonesians do not have Indonesian as their native language, and it is often used as a second language in formal settings.

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

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

Globally, Indonesian is one of the top 10 most spoken languages.

Malaysian (Malay) is spoken by approximately 25 million people

There are an estimated 25 million speakers of Bahasa Malaysia (Malay).

Malaysia has a population of approximately 33 million, and is a multi-ethnic country with approximately 69 percent Malay, 23 percent Chinese, and 7 percent Indian.

Malaysian (Malay) is the national language and is studied by all citizens in schools.

There are also Malay speakers in Singapore and Brunei.

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

Dialects of Malay are also spoken in three southern provinces of Thailand (Pattani, Yala, and Narathiwat) and on the island of Mindanao in the southern Philippines.

Although there are differences between Indonesian and Malaysian, when looking at the entire Malay-speaking world, they are both important languages spoken across a vast area .

What are the differences between Indonesian and Malaysian? Differences in vocabulary and expressions

An easy-to-understand example that shows the differences and relationships between Indonesian and Malaysian is through words that are commonly used in everyday life.

Let's look at a specific example of using different words to mean the same thing.

Why are there differences in words between Indonesian and Malaysian?

The main reason for the differences between Indonesian and Malaysian languages is their colonial history .

Indonesia, which was under Dutch rule , and Malaysia, which was under British rule , each introduced different foreign words.

The result is different words for the exact same thing.

Another reason for the differences in vocabulary is that after Indonesia and Malaysia gained independence after World War II, they developed their own languages, Indonesian and Malaysian, respectively .

What are the differences between Indonesian and Malaysian in everyday terms?

So what exactly is the difference between the words?

For example, when you go shopping, you will need bags to put your items in .

About this bag,

• In Indonesian, the word "tas" comes from the Dutch
• In Malaysian, the English word "beg"

It is called.

Also, the towels you use after a bath

• In Indonesian, the word "handuk" comes from the Dutch
• In Malaysian, the word "tuala" comes from English.

It is called.

These two examples were differences that came from Dutch and English.

Other differences arise from the separate development of Indonesian and Malaysian languages.

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

This is an abbreviation of "telepon seluler" (cellular telephone).

In Malaysia, it is called "telefon bimbit."

Bimbit is a Malay word meaning "to carry," so it means "portable phone."

In this way, new differences between Indonesian and Malaysian continue to emerge even in modern times.

Are Indonesian and Malaysian languages mutually understandable?

As you can see, there are differences in words and expressions between Indonesian and Malaysian.

But basically, mutual understanding is possible .

Linguistically, the two languages share approximately 60 to 70 percent of their vocabulary .

The differences between Indonesian and Malaysian are particularly small in formal settings, such as news programs, official documents, and academic writings.

This is because the two countries have a history of working together to standardize their languages.

In business and academic fields, communication is often possible without being aware of the differences between Indonesian and Malaysian.

Be aware of the difference in everyday conversation

However, there are often differences between Indonesian and Malaysian in casual everyday conversations .

Communication becomes difficult when slang, youth slang, and regional dialects that have developed uniquely in each country are mixed together.

You can see this difference clearly when watching TV shows or YouTube videos.

In basic business and travel situations, you can communicate despite the differences between Indonesian and Malaysian.

However, if you want to build a deeper relationship or talk about more specialized topics, it is recommended that you learn the other person's language thoroughly.

So which is better to learn: Indonesian or Malaysian?

Taking into account the relationships explained so far, which is better to learn: Indonesian or Malaysian?

What are the benefits of choosing Indonesian?

First, let me introduce the benefits of choosing Indonesian .

The biggest advantage of learning Indonesian is the overwhelming number of speakers .

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

Indonesia is experiencing remarkable economic growth and is predicted to become one of the world's leading economic powers by the 2030s.

There are plenty of business opportunities, and Japanese companies are actively expanding into the area.

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

The abundance of learning materials is also a benefit of choosing Indonesian.

The large number of speakers means there are plenty of options for textbooks, online learning resources, and language schools.

If you want to connect with more people, we recommend choosing Indonesian.

What are the benefits of choosing Malaysian?

On the other hand, there are many benefits to choosing Malaysian (Malay) language .

Malaysia is one of the most economically stable countries in Southeast Asia.

Along with Singapore and Brunei, it is very attractive to be able to learn a language that is used in multiple countries .

Because Malaysian is heavily influenced by English, it has a lot of vocabulary that is familiar to English speakers.

Another benefit is that Malaysia is a multi-ethnic country where English and Chinese are widely spoken, making it easy for people with experience studying English or Chinese to become familiar with the language.

If you are planning to do business in Malaysia or stay there for a long time , learning Bahasa Malaysia is a good option.

Learning one language makes it easier to learn the other

Although there are differences between Indonesian and Malaysian, they are closely related languages and share common fundamentals.

Once you've mastered one, it's easy to learn the other .

The grammatical structure is the same, so all you need to do is memorize the differences in words and pronunciation.

For example, if you decide to move to Malaysia after learning Indonesian, it will only take a few months to master the language.

If you are aware of the differences between Indonesian and Malaysian and can use both languages appropriately, you will be able to communicate across a wide area of Southeast Asia.

Recommended ways to learn Indonesian and Malaysian

How can I learn Indonesian or Malaysian?

Next, we will introduce recommended ways to learn Indonesian and Malaysian (Malay)!

Listening, speaking, and shadowing are recommended

Whether you're learning Indonesian or Malaysian, we recommend using audio .

You won't know the difference between Indonesian and Malaysian until you actually listen and speak them.

Listening, speaking, and shadowing are especially important for learning pronunciation differences.

By listening to the pronunciation of native speakers and imitating their pronunciation, you can learn practical Indonesian and Malaysian (Malay) languages.

Shadowing is recommended for learning Indonesian and Malaysian!

One way to master Indonesian or Malaysian is to incorporate shadowing into your studies.

Shadowing is a learning method that combines listening and speaking .

Shadowing is a simple method.

1. Listen to the audio
2. pronounced in the same way after a slight delay

That's all.

If it's too fast, start with a slower voice and gradually increase the speed.

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

However, shadowing requires high-quality audio materials .

By creating audio materials of native speaker pronunciation using the latest AI service "Ondoku," you can practice shadowing with materials that are perfect for you, whether you're traveling or working.

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

[Complete Guide] How to do English shadowing? Explains how to create free learning materials! | Ondoku Text-to-Speech Software

Improve your English skills efficiently with shadowing! Learn a beginner-friendly learning method that simultaneously improves listening, pronunciation, and speaking. We also introduce how to create teaching materials using free AI audio.

If you're learning Indonesian or Malaysian, we recommend "Ondoku"!

If you want to learn Indonesian or Malaysian, we recommend "Ondoku" !

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

You can freely create audio materials that are perfect for listening, speaking, and shadowing .

You can listen to the Indonesian and Malay audio samples of "Ondoku" in this article, so please take a look.

Learn Indonesian and Javanese and check your pronunciation! Listen to audio samples and learn how to use the free text-to-speech software "Ondoku" | Ondoku text-to-speech software

You can listen to sample Indonesian and Javanese audio that can be used with Ondoku. Checking your pronunciation is essential for smooth communication with Indonesian and Javanese speakers. Ondoku is recommended for such situations! It is a text-to-speech service that reads the text you enter aloud with native pronunciation.

Check your pronunciation and practice listening to Malaysian/Malay! Native pronunciation, listen to two different speakers (female and male) | Text-to-Speech Software Ondoku

Here you can listen to Ondoku's Malaysian and Malay audio samples. The audio samples are available in both male and female voices. Use them for narration, work training, presentations, learning, and more.

What's more, "Ondoku" is free!

You can have up to 5,000 characters read aloud for free, so you can easily create teaching materials right away.

Why not try using "Ondoku" to learn 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 relationship between Indonesian and Malaysian is due to the shared history of the two languages .

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

During this period, Malay served as the lingua franca throughout the region .

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

As the Malacca Sultanate prospered, Classical Malay became more refined and developed into a literary and administrative language.

Islamic culture has also had a major influence, with many Arabic and Persian words being adopted into Malay.

The Malay language of this period is the common ancestor of modern Indonesian and Malaysian languages .

The difference between the two languages is related to colonial rule

The major turning point that led to the differences between Indonesian and Malaysian languages is related to colonial rule by European countries .

In the 16th century, the Portuguese conquered Malacca, and later the Dutch took control of Indonesia and the British the Malay Peninsula.

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

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

This was a major factor in creating the differences between Indonesian and Malaysian today.

Indonesian as the unifying language

In 1928, young people in Indonesia declared the Youth Pledge and decided to adopt Indonesian as the unifying language.

Various languages were spoken in various parts of Indonesia, including Javanese, but by choosing Indonesian, which is based on Malay, as the unifying language rather than any of them, they ensured that no particular ethnic group would have language or power.

This resulted in the creation of Indonesia's own national language, based on Malay .

This historic decision also marked a turning point when Indonesian and Malaysian languages went their separate ways.

The relationship between modern Indonesian and Malaysian

Another reason for the differences between the two languages is that after Indonesia and Malaysia gained independence, they each developed their own national languages .

Indonesia is open-minded about language and is open to new words .

There is also a tendency to incorporate loanwords from foreign languages as needed.

Malaysia, on the other hand, has taken a different approach.

Malaysia is also a multi-ethnic country where various ethnic groups, including Malays, Chinese, and Indians, coexist.

However, in terms of language policy, Malaysia has tended to maintain the purity of traditional Malay .

In Malaysia, rather than using foreign words as they are, they try to create new words in Malay as much as possible.

The differences between Indonesian and Malaysian are also related to the different ways of thinking about language.

In this way, differences between Indonesian and Malaysian have not only existed in the past but continue to emerge in the present.

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

Whether you choose Indonesian or Malaysian, you'll be able to discover the rich historical stories behind it.

When learning Indonesian and Malaysian, it is recommended to understand the differences and relationships between them.

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

Although Indonesian and Malaysian share common roots, they are languages that have developed their own unique pronunciation, vocabulary, and expressions.

There are also differences that need to be taken into consideration when using everyday conversation.

Whether you learn Indonesian or Malaysian depends on your goals.

Whichever you choose, it will be of great use for your travels and business in Southeast Asia.

If you want to learn Indonesian or Malaysian, we recommend using the latest AI service , "Ondoku."

Why not try learning Indonesian or Malaysian using Ondoku 's free text-to-speech service?

■ AI voice synthesis software "Ondoku"

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To use it, simply enter text or upload a file on the site. A natural-sounding audio file will be generated within seconds. You can use voice synthesis up to 5,000 characters for free, so please give it a try.

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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