Numbers 0-1000+, the se- prefix, and practical number usage
Can understand and use numbers for age, prices, quantities, and basic counting
Look at these examples. Can you spot the grammar pattern?
Saya dua puluh lima tahun.
I am twenty-five years old.
Harganya lima ribu rupiah.
It costs five thousand rupiah.
Ada tiga orang di sini.
There are three people here.
Pay attention to the highlighted parts. What do they have in common?
Indonesian numbers are very regular and easy to learn.
| Number | Word | Number | Word |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | nol | 6 | enam |
| 1 | satu | 7 | tujuh |
| 2 | dua | 8 | delapan |
| 3 | tiga | 9 | sembilan |
| 4 | empat | 10 | sepuluh |
| 5 | lima |
11-19: X + belas (sebelas, dua belas...). 20-99: X + puluh (dua puluh, tiga puluh...). 100 = seratus, 1000 = seribu.
The se- prefix means 'one': sepuluh = one-ten, seratus = one-hundred.
Apply this grammar in A1 course exercises
Practice ExercisesSaid 'satu puluh' instead of 'sepuluh' or 'satu ratus' instead of 'seratus'
For the number 1 in compounds, use 'se-': sepuluh (10), sebelas (11), seratus (100), seribu (1000).
Added plural marker (orang-orang) after a number
Numbers already imply plurality. Say 'tiga orang' (three people), never 'tiga orang-orang'.
Saya dua puluh lima tahun.
I am twenty-five years old.
Numbers read left to right: 25 = dua puluh (20) + lima (5). 'Tahun' = years.
Harganya lima ribu rupiah.
It costs five thousand rupiah.
'Harganya' = the price (-nya = the). 'Lima ribu' = 5,000. 'Rupiah' = Indonesian currency.
Ada tiga orang di sini.
There are three people here.
'Ada' = there is/are. No number agreement needed: 'tiga orang' — 'orang' doesn't change.
Practice in course
Apply this grammar in A1 course exercises