Numbers 1-10
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Indonesian numbers 1-10 are simple, phonetic, and do not change based on gender or plurality.
- Memorize the base words: satu, dua, tiga, empat, lima, enam, tujuh, delapan, sembilan, sepuluh.
- Numbers are placed after the noun they modify: 'dua buku' (two books).
- Indonesian numbers do not change form regardless of the noun's gender or count.
Meanings
Cardinal numbers are used to quantify objects, people, or time in Indonesian.
Counting objects
Used to denote the quantity of items.
“Saya beli satu roti.”
“Dia punya dua kucing.”
Cardinal Numbers 1-10
| Number | Indonesian | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | satu | sah-too |
| 2 | dua | doo-ah |
| 3 | tiga | tee-gah |
| 4 | empat | em-paht |
| 5 | lima | lee-mah |
| 6 | enam | eh-nahm |
| 7 | tujuh | too-joo |
| 8 | delapan | deh-lah-pahn |
| 9 | sembilan | sem-bee-lahn |
| 10 | sepuluh | seh-poo-loo |
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Affirmative | Noun + Number | Buku satu |
| Interrogative | Berapa + Noun | Berapa buku? |
| Negative | Bukan + Noun + Number | Bukan buku satu |
| Quantity | Number + Noun (Incorrect) | Satu buku (Incorrect) |
| Quantity | Noun + Number (Correct) | Buku satu (Correct) |
Formality Spectrum
Saya memiliki dua buku. (Possession)
Saya punya dua buku. (Possession)
Aku punya dua buku. (Possession)
Gue punya dua buku. (Possession)
Indonesian Number Structure
Quantity
- satu 1
- dua 2
Examples by Level
Saya punya satu pena.
I have one pen.
Dua buku.
Two books.
Tiga apel.
Three apples.
Empat kursi.
Four chairs.
Berapa harga lima roti ini?
How much for these five breads?
Saya mau enam gelas air.
I want six glasses of water.
Tujuh hari dalam seminggu.
Seven days in a week.
Delapan orang datang.
Eight people came.
Sembilan dari sepuluh orang setuju.
Nine out of ten people agree.
Saya butuh sepuluh menit lagi.
I need ten more minutes.
Ada satu masalah kecil.
There is one small problem.
Dua opsi tersedia.
Two options are available.
Tiga proyek selesai tepat waktu.
Three projects finished on time.
Empat divisi terlibat dalam rapat.
Four divisions are involved in the meeting.
Lima persen diskon diberikan.
A five percent discount is given.
Enam bulan masa percobaan.
Six months probation period.
Tujuh poin argumen disampaikan.
Seven points of argument were presented.
Delapan variabel harus dipertimbangkan.
Eight variables must be considered.
Sembilan skenario telah diuji.
Nine scenarios have been tested.
Sepuluh tahun dedikasi penuh.
Ten years of full dedication.
Satu kebenaran yang mutlak.
One absolute truth.
Dua sisi mata uang.
Two sides of a coin.
Tiga pilar utama negara.
Three main pillars of the nation.
Empat penjuru mata angin.
Four cardinal directions.
Easily Confused
Learners mix up 'satu' (one) and 'pertama' (first).
Learners think 'dua-dua' means 'two'.
Learners think 'buah' is mandatory.
Common Mistakes
Satu buku
Buku satu
Tiga kucing-kucing
Tiga kucing
Satu-nya buku
Satu buku
Satu orang
Seorang
Berapa buku-buku?
Berapa buku?
Dua-nya meja
Dua meja
Meja dua
Dua meja (in some contexts)
Sepuluh-sepuluh orang
Sepuluh orang
Satu-nya
Satu
Dua-dua
Dua
Satu-satunya
Satu
Tiga-tiga
Tiga
Sepuluh-nya
Sepuluh
Satu buah buku
Satu buku
Sentence Patterns
Saya punya ___ ___.
Ada ___ ___ di sini.
Berapa ___ yang kamu beli?
Saya butuh ___ ___ lagi.
Real World Usage
Satu nasi goreng.
Dua baju.
Tiga tiket.
Empat laporan.
5 menit lagi.
10 tips.
Phonetic Reading
Word Order
Use Classifiers
Politeness
Smart Tips
Use 'buah' to sound more native.
Use 'seorang' instead of 'satu orang'.
Always put 'berapa' at the start.
Use digits for numbers above 10.
Pronunciation
Vowels
Indonesian vowels are pure and short.
Consonants
Consonants are similar to English but 'r' is rolled.
Statement
Buku dua.
Falling intonation at the end.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Think of 'Satu' as 'Sat' (like sitting on one chair).
Visual Association
Imagine a giant 'Tiga' (3) shaped like a bird flying in the sky.
Rhyme
Satu, dua, tiga, empat, lima, enam, tujuh, delapan, sembilan, sepuluh, let's count together!
Story
I saw one (satu) cat, then two (dua) cats, then three (tiga) cats. They were eating four (empat) fish and five (lima) treats. By six (enam) o'clock, seven (tujuh) friends arrived with eight (delapan) gifts, nine (sembilan) balloons, and ten (sepuluh) candles.
Word Web
Challenge
Count every object you see in your room from 1 to 10 in Indonesian.
Cultural Notes
Numbers are often used with classifiers like 'buah' for objects.
Similar counting system.
Numbers are often used in formal Javanese contexts.
Indonesian numbers are of Austronesian origin.
Conversation Starters
Berapa saudara kamu?
Berapa harga kopi ini?
Berapa tahun kamu tinggal di sini?
Berapa banyak proyek yang kamu kerjakan?
Journal Prompts
Test Yourself
Saya punya ___ buku.
Which is correct?
Find and fix the mistake:
Dua-nya kucing.
buku / lima / beli / saya
Translate: ten apples
Answer starts with: ape...
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
Indonesian numbers change by gender.
A: Berapa roti? B: ___.
Score: /8
Practice Exercises
8 exercisesSaya punya ___ buku.
Which is correct?
Find and fix the mistake:
Dua-nya kucing.
buku / lima / beli / saya
Translate: ten apples
Match 7.
Indonesian numbers change by gender.
A: Berapa roti? B: ___.
Score: /8
FAQ (8)
No, nouns remain the same.
No, Indonesian is gender-neutral.
Use 'berapa'.
No, it's optional.
It's a prefix for 'one'.
They act as quantifiers after nouns.
No, they are the same.
Use 'seorang' for one person.
In Other Languages
uno, dos, tres
Gender agreement.
un, deux, trois
Spelling complexity.
eins, zwei, drei
Case system.
ichi, ni, san
Counters.
wahid, ithnan, thalatha
Dual forms.
yi, er, san
Measure words.
