Meaning
Something that is beyond the ordinary
Cultural Background
In the capital, 'luar biasa' is often used by professionals and influencers. It's a hallmark of 'Bahasa Jaksel' (South Jakarta slang) to mix it with English, e.g., 'Itu luar biasa banget, honestly.' Javanese culture values 'Alus' (refinement). Using 'luar biasa' is a way to give high praise while remaining polite and avoiding aggressive or arrogant language. There is a famous 'Salam Luar Biasa' (Extraordinary Greeting) used by motivational speakers like Mario Teguh. It involves a specific hand gesture and is meant to energize the audience. When Indonesian athletes win international competitions (like the Olympics), the media universally uses 'Luar Biasa' to describe their struggle and victory, making it a patriotic term.
Use it for compliments
If you are unsure how to praise someone in Indonesian, 'Luar biasa' is always a safe and high-quality choice.
Word Order
Never say 'Biasa luar'. Adjectives in Indonesian always follow the noun.
Meaning
Something that is beyond the ordinary
Use it for compliments
If you are unsure how to praise someone in Indonesian, 'Luar biasa' is always a safe and high-quality choice.
Word Order
Never say 'Biasa luar'. Adjectives in Indonesian always follow the noun.
The 'Yang' trick
Add 'yang' before 'luar biasa' to make it sound more natural when modifying a noun: 'Orang yang luar biasa'.
The Motivational Response
If someone asks 'Apa kabar?' in a high-energy setting, responding 'Luar biasa!' shows you are enthusiastic.
Test Yourself
Fill in the blank with the correct phrase.
Pemandangan di gunung itu ______.
Luar biasa is the correct phrase for 'extraordinary'.
Which sentence is grammatically correct?
Choose the correct sentence:
Indonesian doesn't need 'adalah' before adjectives, and 'sangat' comes before the adjective.
Match the Indonesian phrase with its English equivalent.
Match the following:
Luar biasa means extraordinary, while biasa saja means just okay.
Complete the dialogue.
A: Bagaimana konser tadi malam? B: Wah, penampilannya ______!
In the context of a 'Wah' (Wow) exclamation, 'luar biasa' is the most appropriate positive response.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Biasa vs Luar Biasa
Practice Bank
4 exercisesPemandangan di gunung itu ______.
Luar biasa is the correct phrase for 'extraordinary'.
Choose the correct sentence:
Indonesian doesn't need 'adalah' before adjectives, and 'sangat' comes before the adjective.
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
Luar biasa means extraordinary, while biasa saja means just okay.
A: Bagaimana konser tadi malam? B: Wah, penampilannya ______!
In the context of a 'Wah' (Wow) exclamation, 'luar biasa' is the most appropriate positive response.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
12 questionsIt is neutral. You can use it with your boss or with your friends.
Usually no. It is almost always positive. For bad things, use 'parah'.
'Hebat' is more common in daily talk; 'luar biasa' is slightly more 'wow'.
You can say 'sangat luar biasa' or 'luar biasa sekali'.
Yes! It's a great way to tell a chef their food is amazing.
It is written as two separate words: luar biasa.
No, adjectives in Indonesian do not change for plural nouns.
Yes, 'Film itu luar biasa' is very common.
It means 'outside'.
It means 'usual' or 'ordinary'.
Young people might say 'gokil' or 'luar binasa' as a joke.
It's a soft trill, like in Spanish or Italian.
Related Phrases
Hebat
synonymGreat/Amazing
Dahsyat
similarMind-blowing/Tremendous
Biasa saja
contrastJust ordinary/So-so
Istimewa
similarSpecial/Unique
Menakjubkan
synonymAmazing/Wonderful
