Telling Time
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
To tell time in Indonesian, use 'Jam' followed by the number, and add 'lewat' for minutes past or 'kurang' for minutes until.
- Use 'Jam' + number for the hour: Jam satu (1:00).
- Use 'lewat' for minutes past: Jam dua lewat sepuluh (2:10).
- Use 'kurang' for minutes until: Jam tiga kurang lima (2:55).
Meanings
The system used to express clock time in daily Indonesian communication.
Clock Time
Expressing the current time of day.
“Jam tujuh pagi.”
“Jam delapan malam.”
Time Expression Components
| Component | Function | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Jam | Hour marker | Jam lima |
| Pukul | Formal hour marker | Pukul lima |
| Lewat | Minutes past | Lewat sepuluh |
| Kurang | Minutes until | Kurang lima |
| Pagi | Morning | Jam tujuh pagi |
| Malam | Night | Jam tujuh malam |
Common Time Abbreviations
| Full | Short |
|---|---|
| Jam | J. |
| Pukul | Pkl. |
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Simple | Jam + Number | Jam lima |
| Minutes Past | Jam + Number + lewat + Minutes | Jam lima lewat sepuluh |
| Minutes Until | Jam + (Next Hour) + kurang + Minutes | Jam enam kurang sepuluh |
| Question | Jam + berapa? | Jam berapa? |
| Formal | Pukul + Number | Pukul lima |
طيف الرسمية
Pukul berapa sekarang? (Asking for time)
Jam berapa sekarang? (Asking for time)
Jam berapa? (Asking for time)
Jam brapa? (Asking for time)
Time of Day Markers
Morning
- Pagi Morning
Midday
- Siang Midday
Afternoon
- Sore Afternoon
Night
- Malam Night
Examples by Level
Jam satu.
One o'clock.
Jam dua pagi.
Two AM.
Jam tujuh malam.
Seven PM.
Jam berapa?
What time is it?
Jam tiga lewat sepuluh.
3:10.
Jam empat kurang lima.
3:55.
Sekarang jam lima sore.
It is 5 PM now.
Saya datang jam enam.
I arrive at six.
Rapat dimulai jam sembilan tepat.
The meeting starts at nine sharp.
Tunggu saya jam setengah dua.
Wait for me at 1:30.
Kereta berangkat jam sepuluh lewat lima belas.
The train leaves at 10:15.
Apakah kamu bisa datang jam delapan?
Can you come at eight?
Pukul sepuluh pagi acara dimulai.
At 10 AM the event begins.
Mohon hadir pukul dua siang.
Please be present at 2 PM.
Jadwal penerbangan pukul sebelas malam.
The flight schedule is 11 PM.
Pukul berapa kita harus berkumpul?
At what time must we gather?
Kita harus tiba sebelum pukul delapan.
We must arrive before 8 o'clock.
Acara ini dijadwalkan pada pukul empat sore.
This event is scheduled for 4 PM.
Jangan sampai terlambat dari pukul sembilan.
Do not be late past 9 o'clock.
Pukul berapa tepatnya presentasi dimulai?
What time exactly does the presentation start?
Pukul 14.00 adalah waktu yang disepakati.
14:00 is the agreed time.
Pertemuan akan berlangsung hingga pukul lima.
The meeting will last until 5 o'clock.
Harap maklum, jam karet sering terjadi.
Please understand, 'rubber time' often happens.
Pukul berapa pun Anda datang, saya siap.
Whatever time you come, I am ready.
Easily Confused
Learners mix up the casual 'jam' and formal 'pukul'.
أخطاء شائعة
Jam lima lewat lima belas
Jam lima lewat lima belas
Jam dua kurang sepuluh (for 2:10)
Jam dua lewat sepuluh
Jam 14.00
Jam dua siang
Jam pagi tujuh
Jam tujuh pagi
Jam tiga kurang tiga puluh
Jam setengah empat
Pukul jam lima
Pukul lima
Jam lima sore
Jam lima sore
Jam lima tepatnya
Jam lima tepat
Sampai jam lima
Sampai pukul lima
Jam lima kurang lima belas
Jam lima kurang seperempat
Pukul 17.00 sore
Pukul 17.00
Jam karet itu jam 9
Jam karet berarti tidak tepat waktu
Pukul lima lewat
Pukul lima lebih
Sentence Patterns
Sekarang jam ___.
Real World Usage
Jam berapa kita ketemu?
Use markers
Smart Tips
Use 'tepat' for sharp.
النطق
Jam
Pronounced like 'Jum' in 'Jump'.
Question
Jam berapa? ↑
Rising intonation at the end for questions.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Jam is the Clock, Lewat is the Past, Kurang is the Minus, to make it last!
Visual Association
Imagine a clock face. When the hand moves past the 12, it 'lewat' (passes) the hour. When it approaches the next hour, it is 'kurang' (lacking) minutes.
Rhyme
Jam satu lewat lima, Jam dua kurang lima, waktu kita bersama.
Story
Budi looks at his watch. It is 'Jam tujuh'. He realizes he is late. He says 'Jam tujuh lewat lima' to his boss. His boss says, 'No, it is Jam delapan kurang lima!'
Word Web
تحدٍّ
Look at your watch every hour today and say the time out loud in Indonesian.
ملاحظات ثقافية
The concept of 'jam karet' (rubber time) implies that social appointments may start later than the stated time.
The word 'jam' comes from Persian 'jām', meaning vessel/clock.
Conversation Starters
Jam berapa kamu bangun?
Journal Prompts
Test Yourself
Sekarang jam ___.
Score: /1
تمارين تطبيقية
1 exercisesSekarang jam ___.
Score: /1
الأسئلة الشائعة (1)
Jam satu lewat tiga puluh.
In Other Languages
Son las...
Indonesian doesn't conjugate verbs for time.
Il est...
French has gendered numbers.
Es ist...
German has complex 'viertel vor/nach'.
...ji
Japanese uses particles.
Al-sa'a...
Arabic has complex grammar.
...dian
Chinese has no conjugation.
