This is a list of Indonesian and Standard Malay spelling differences, that is, word pairs same in meaning but different in appearance (spelling). Diacritics are shown for pronunciation clarity in this table (while they are not usually written). Translations may be approximated; see linked entries for details.
English
Topics
Indonesian
Standard Malay
Notes
active avoidance
hindar aktif
hindaran aktif
activity
aktivitas
aktiviti
advocating the lower lip forward
cêbik
jebik
always
sênantiasa
sentiasa
anno Domini , Common Era
Masé hi
Masi hi
articulated
gandèng
ganding
as if
kayak
kaya
August
Agustus
Ogos
aware
sadar
sedar
ballon
engineering
balon
bélon
banner
engineering
spanduk
sepanduk
basket straps
jangki
jangkih
beat , blow , stroke
hantam
hentam
beautiful and glowing stone
kêmala
gemala
because
karêna
kerana
bell
engineering
loncèng
loceng
bellows
ubub
hubub
benefit
faèdah
faédah
blanch
cêlup
celur
blond (colour )
optics
pirang
pérang
box (from thick paper )
engineering
dus
dos
broken , damaged
rusak
rosak
brown
optics
cokêlat
coklat
bus
bus
bas
caged
jêrukup
jerungkup
call , cry , or shout
imbau
himbau
camp on elephant's back
haudah
hodah
capacity
kapasitas
kapasiti
card
engineering
kartu
kad
ceramic
chemical engineering
kêramik
séramik
chair
engineering
kursi
kerusi
characteristic
kêlikat
kulikat
chelate
sêlêntik
jelentik
clamp
penjêpit
penyepit
clapping , colliding
dêmpok
dempuk
cluster
klastêr
kluster
cohort
kohor , kohort
kohort
collection
kolèksi
koléksi
collective
kolèktif
koléktif
collectivity
kolèktivitas
koléktiviti
come on (interjection )
ayo
ayuh
commemoration of someone's death annually
haul
hol
compartment
kompartêmèn
kompartmen [kompatmen]
competition , race
lomba
lumba
complete
komplèt
komplit
complexity
komplèksitas
kompléksiti
component
komponèn
komponen
concentric
konsèntris
konséntrik
concept
konsèp
konsép
concerning
pasal
fasal
contemporary
kontèmporèr
kontémporari
continuity
kontinuitas
kontinuiti
crawling approach
indik
hindik
cream (colour )
optics
krèm
krim
creative
krèatif
kréatif
creativity
krèativitas
kréativiti
credibility
krédibilitas
krédibiliti
critical
kritis
kritikal
crooked -bent
kêrèkot
kerétot
crowded
ingar
hingar
crush (verb )
gilas
gilis
cupboard
engineering
lêmari
almari
curettage
medicine
kurétasê
kurétaj
curious
pênasaran
panasaran
curtain
engineering
gordèn
kordén
cuteness
kêcandan
kucandan
cybernetics
information technology
sibernetika
sibernétik
cycle rickshaw
bècak
béca
dainty (delicately small and pretty)
mungil
mongél
dandruff
medicine
kêlêmur
kelemumur
dead end
kintil
intil
decade
dékadê
dékad
December
Désèmbêr
Disémber
degree
grad
gréd
deliver (verb )
antar
hantar
dentist
medicine
doktêr gigi
doktor gigi
dirty muddy
gêlèpot
gelépok
Also Malay gelépot .
disc , discus
cakra , cakram
cakera , cakeram
discrete
diskrèt
diskrit
dismal
gobar
ghobar
distortion
érot
hérot
difference
farak
faraq
different
bèda
béza
different
farik
fariq
dilemmatic
dilèmatis
dilématik
distance between right and left foot
kangkang
kéngkang
diversity
divèrsitas
diversiti
divide
bagi
bahagi
document
information technology
dokumèn
dokumen
documentary
film
dokumèntèr
dokumentari
dogmatic
dogmatis
dogmatik
drag (verb )
èrèt , sèrèt
hérét
drastic
drastis
drastik
dreg
ampas
hampas
drop
tètès
titis
dry
kêrontang
kontang
dues money
hujin
hunjin
dust
dêbu
habuk
dust cleaner
kêmocèng
kemucing
dynamic
dinamis
dinamik
dynamics
dinamika
dinamik
efficient
èfisièn
éfisien
The form of efisyen is attested in Standard Malay.
eight
dêlapan
lapan
end
ujung
hujung
episodic
èpisodik
épisodik
eradicate
bêrantas
banteras
erotic
èrotis
érotik
error
galat
ralat
The Indonesian ralat means errata, correction, or rectification.
excitement
gairah
ghairah
fantastic
fantastis
fantastik
faint
pingsan
péngsan
fall behind , dropping
cècèr
cicir
firecracker
chemical engineering
mêrcon
mercun
fishy
anyir
hanyir
firm , strong , solid
kukuh / kokoh
kukuh
flattened and wide noodles
kwétiau
kuétiau
flexible
flèksibêl
fléksibel
floor tile
civil engineering
ubin
jubin
fog
geology
kabut
kabus
folded at the end or edge so that the folded part depends
kêlèbèk
kelébét
forest betel
zoology
kadok
kaduk
foul smell
kohong
kahang
Friday
Jumat
Jumaat
front row
damah
dammah
fume
asap
wasap
gallon
galon
gélén
generic
gêrênik
gerénék
gift
karunia
kurnia
gimmick
hèlat
élat
ginger family
botany
lêmpuyang
lampoyang
grapefruit
botany
gadang *
gedang
grasp (verb)
cêngkêram
cengkam
gravity
gravitasi
graviti
gray , grey (colour )
abu-abu , kêlabu
kelabu
gum
gom
gam
handle
handêl
héndal
hangar
hanggar
hangar
harmonic , harmonious (adjective )
harmonis
harmonik
The mathematics and physics senses is harmonik in Indonesian. The noun harmony is harmoni .
go away
incit
hincit
hiking
êmbara
kembara
honor
izah
izzah
hub
hub
hab
hello
halo
hélo
helmet
engineering
hèlm
hélmét
hemisphere
hémisfèr
hémisféra
hornblende
geology
hornblènda
hornblénd
humble
khuduk
khudu
hunchback
bungkuk
bongkok
hurricane
geology
topan
taufan
hybrid
hibrida
hibrid
hydraulic
physics
hidraulis
hidraulik
ice
ès
ais
imitation of the sound of water
kêcimpung
ketimbung
incessant
gêncar
gencer
incident
insidèn
insiden
inference
infèrènsi
inferens
infusion
infus
infusi
ink
dawat
dakwat
ins and outs
sêluk-bêluk
sélok-bélok
inspector
inspèktur
inspéktor
integrity
intêgritas
intégriti
intensity
intènsitas
inténsiti
internal
intèrn
interen
international
antarbangsa
antarabangsa
intolerance
intolèransi
intolerans
inverted
sungsang
songsang
ionosphere
ionosfèr
ionosfera
jagged , four-hole iron bracelets , the size of a finger , are worn for punching
kêrakêling
kelakkeling
jamboree
jamboré
jambori
July
Juli
Julai
June
Juni
Jun
kermak leaves
kêrmak
keremak
kinematics
kinématika
kinématik
kinesics
kinésika
kinésik
kuweni (Mangifera odorata )
kêbêmbêm
kebambam
lacquer
lak
lakuer
lak stone
lakêri
lakri
landscape
lanskap
landskap
lantern
tanglung
tanglong
large needle
coban
cuban
launch
luncur
lancar
lavender
lavèndêl
lavénder
leaning
èrèng
héréng
length size
élo
éla
light visible
optics
kêntara
ketara
long pipe
engineering
hokah
hukah
lotion
pharmacy
losion
losén
magic
magis
magik
magnitude
magnitudo
magnitud
man (male person)
pria
peria
marble
marmêr
marmar
March
Marêt
Mac
marine
marinê
marin
massage
masasê
masaj
masochism
masokhismê
masokisme
masochist
masokhis
masokis
metal finger gloves
bidal
jidal
mind
hèlat
hélah
mist
kabut
kabus
mix
adon
adun
Monday
Sênin
Isnin
mule
bagal
baghal
musty
apak , apêk
hapak
namely (that is)
yaitu
iaitu
nature
kodrat
kudrat
nature
kodrati
kudrati
negligent
gaflah
ghaflah
neutral
nètral
néutral
new
baru
baharu
notice (announcement, notification )
nota
notis
nude (without clothing or other covering )
bugil
bogél
number
nomor
nombor
objectivity
philosophy
objèktivitas
objéktiviti
obstacle
kêndala
gendala
ocean
geology
samudra
samudera
orange (colour )
oranyê
orén
ounce
ons
auns
package
engineering
pakèt
pakéj
packet
engineering
pakèt
pakét
panel
panèl
panel
parachute
engineering
parasut
paracut
parse
urai
hurai
part
sêbagian
sebahagian
passion
gairah
ghairah
peck
kêcup
kucup
pedigree
silsilah
salasilah
peel
kubak
kobak
pen (writing tool )
pèna
pén
Both forms are attested in both dictionaries.
pencil
pènsil
pénsél
pension
pènsiun
péncén
people who are proficient about yoga
yogi
jogi
peripheral , periphery
périfèr
periferal , periferi
persimmon
kêsêmêk
kesmak
pesticide
péstisida
péstisid
petition
pêtisi
pétisyen
phase
fasê
fasa
physical
fisik
fizikal
picnic
tamasya
temasya
pipe (rigid tube )
pipa
paip
plan (set of intended actions )
plan
pelan
plate
pêlat
plat
plural
majêmuk
majmuk
pocket , sack
kantong
kantung
popular
populèr
popular
popularity
popularitas
populariti
porcelain
porsêlèn
porselin
practical
praktis
praktikal
prank
kêcandan
kecindan
praying mantis
sêntadu
centadu
premise (piece of real estate )
prêmis
prémis
prestige
prèstisê
préstij
previously
dulu
dahulu
prick
cocok
cucuk
private
privat
privet
prototype
prototipê
prototaip
puberty
balig
baligh
pull in
isap
hisap
pump (fluid moving or compressing device )
mechanical engineering
pompa
pam
pyramid
piramida
piramid
quality
kualitas
kualiti
quartz
kuarsa
kuarza
quantity
kuantitas
kuantiti
quarantine
karantina
kuarantin
rally
sports
rèli
rali
razor
kêrampagi
kerempagi
recipe (plan or procedure )
rêsèp
resipi
record (information put into a medium )
rêkam
rakam
record (most extreme known value, achievement in competitive events )
rèkor
rékod
recording
rêkaman
rakaman
relativity
rélativitas
rélativiti
reliable , dependable
andal
handal
representation in painting or engraving
pigura
figura
reserve
rêsérvê
rizab
resonance
résonansi
resonans
respect
jura
jurah
respondent
rèspondèn
résponden
responsibility
tanggung jawab
tanggungjawab
rhythm
ritmê
ritma
rhythmic
ritmis
ritmik
rice sprawled and mixed with side dishes
kêbuli
kabuli
riot
onar
honar
road
arung
harung
rooster
jago
jaguh
round
ronda
ronda , raun
rumour
kabar angin
khabar angin
sabotage
sabotasê
sabotaj
sack (bag )
goni
guni
sad
iba
hiba
salad
sêlada
salad
salty (taste )
asin
masin
sarcastic
sarkastis
sarkastik
sardine (fish )
sardèn
sardin
schedule
jadwal
jadual
scheme
skéma
skim
scold
hardik
herdik
scoop (verb )
ciduk
cédok
secret
rahasia
rahsia
sect
séktê
sékta
section
bagian
bahagian
section
sèksi
séksyen
sediment , precipitate
êndap
hendap
sensitivity
sènsitivitas
sénsitiviti
sentiment
sentimen
séntimen
separate (verb )
urai
hurai
sequin
fashion
lobêrci
labuci
series
séri
siri
sewer
lungkang
longkang
sexuality
sèksualitas
séksualiti
sexy
sèksi
séksi
shake
guncang
goncang
shampoo
sampo
syampu
shiftwork
sif
syif
simpleleaf chastetree
lênggundi
legundi
sin
karyah
kiryah
sink
kêlêlap
kelalap
siren (loud sound device )
sirénê
siren
sky
cakrawala
cakerawala
slander
jujah
jujat
sled
èrèt
hérét
slip
gêlimang
gelumang
sloth
kungkang
kongkang
silk
fashion
sutra
sutera
small cut
iris
hiris
small job
gêrupis
geropes
snapping
antuk
hantuk
snot
ingus
hingus
snow
salju
salji
sob
têrisak-isak
terésak-ésak
sounds smooth and loud
gêlêting
keleting
souvenir
cêndêra mata
cenderamata
specimen
spèsimên
spésimen
spectacles
kacamata
kaca mata
spider
laba-laba
labah-labah
spoils of war
ganimah
ghanimah
sponge
spons
span
sponge (a type of light cake )
cuisine
bolu
baulu
sparrow
gêlatik
jelatik
stadium (sporting venue )
stadion
stadium
standard
standar
standard
station
stasiun
stésén
steam
uap
wap
stereotype
stéréotipê
stéréotaip
stomp hard
ênyak
henyak
stone of wisdom
guliga
geliga
strange
garib
gharib
strategic
stratègis
stratégik
stretching
gêlinggang
gelénggang
suck , draw
sêdot
sedut
sun
surya
suria
superiority
supêrioritas
supérioriti
surprised
hèran
hairan
symbiotic
simbiotis
simbiotik
syndicate
sindikat
sindikét
synthetic
sintètis
sintétik
tactical
taktis
taktikal
tempo
témpo
témpoh
thematic
tèmatis
tematik
the Honourable
Yang Terhormat (Yth. )
Yang Berhormat (YB )
thin
tipis
nipis
thin-layer chromatography
analytical chemistry
kromatografi lapis tipis
kromatografi lapisan nipis
think (action ); thinking
pikir
fikir
thud
gêdêbuk
gedebak
Thursday
Kamis
Khamis
tickle
gêlitik
geléték
The Indonesian nonstandard spellings include gêlètèk and gêliting .
tight-lipped
bungkas
bongkas
tool for unplugging bottle plugs
kotrèk
koterék
toothless
ompong
rompong
tragic
tragis
tragik
trample
êntak
hentak
traumatic
traumatis
traumatik
treacherous
durhaka
derhaka
trend
trèn
trénd [trén]
try
coba
cuba
twitching
komat-kamit
kumat-kamit
type
tipê
tipa
ugly
jêlèk
jelik
ugly
odoh
hodoh
understand
paham
faham
unseen
gaib
ghaib
use
faèdah
faédah
utility
utilitas
utiliti
vase (flowers container )
vas
pasu
velvet (fabric )
bêlêdu , bêludru
baldu
version
vèrsi
versi
victory
galib
ghalib
voluntary
voluntér
voluntari
wade
arung
harung
want
mau
mahu
water storage (stone )
kulah
kolah
wheezing
cicip
icip
whereas
bahwa
bahawa
worried
khawatir
khuatir
wrinkle -wrinkled
kêrèmot
keremut
wrinkle
kêriput
kerépot
yesterday
kêmarin
kelmarin