If I Go to Indonesia, Will I Understand the Language?
By Bojel
@jobelbojel (35461)
Philippines
October 29, 2022 6:11am CST
They say that we are distant brothers. Some Indonesians migrated to the Philippines in the Mindanao area which is the south part of the country.
We also have the same facial features, almost the same. Same skin color for most.
But what amazes me is the similarities on words we use for some things. So if I go to Indonesia, I might guess what they are talking about.
We say anak for baby (child)
We say kambing for goat
We say nasi for rice -- nasi is a term used where I live now. Not a Filipino word.
We say pinto for door
Mata - eyes
Lima - five
Gunting - scissors
Payong/payung - umbrella
They might have different grammar structure but if I hear the keywords maybe I can understand Bahasa Indonesia
23 people like this
22 responses
@brokenbee (11090)
• Philippines
29 Oct 22
I had also learned that they have this rice cake which they call ketupat and here in my province we call it patupat... It's almost the same...
5 people like this
@cacay1 (83406)
• Cagayan De Oro, Philippines
29 Oct 22
@brokenbee 
almost synonymous.
almost synonymous.4 people like this
@jobelbojel (35461)
• Philippines
29 Oct 22
Yes, correct. Some words are almost the same. Apat (four) is empat, sampu is apulu , I think. Apulu is Kapampangan for sampu (ten)
4 people like this
@jobelbojel (35461)
• Philippines
29 Oct 22
I have seen some videos. The only difference is the accent.
3 people like this
@cacay1 (83406)
• Cagayan De Oro, Philippines
30 Oct 22
@jobelbojel really? Just repeat after the speaker.
1 person likes this
@RebeccasFarm (89831)
• Arvada, Colorado
29 Oct 22
Oh yes, I imagine you would be well able to understand Bojel.
3 people like this
@jobelbojel (35461)
• Philippines
30 Oct 22
I hop I can travel in the near future.
1 person likes this
@jobelbojel (35461)
• Philippines
29 Oct 22
Is it super similar like phrases or words?
Because in Bahasa only the words are similar. If they talk about child say it in Bahasa I could only pick up "child" but not the complete sentence.
3 people like this
@LadyDuck (471286)
• Switzerland
29 Oct 22
@jobelbojel Many words are similar, if you read a menu you understand what the food is. Talking with people is another matter if you did not study the language in school.
2 people like this
@jobelbojel (35461)
• Philippines
30 Oct 22
That is soo good. We also understand some Spanish words.
1 person likes this
@jobelbojel (35461)
• Philippines
31 Oct 22
@nela13 if they are similar with Spanish, maybe I can pick up some words.
1 person likes this
@nela13 (58599)
• Portugal
30 Oct 22
@jobelbojel really?! That means that you surely understand some portuguese words too.
1 person likes this
@popciclecold (38621)
• United States
29 Oct 22
Great to know that much sure someone will help assist you..
1 person likes this
@jobelbojel (35461)
• Philippines
29 Oct 22
Sure. I can ask Ric to guide if I visit the country.
2 people like this
@MrDenata (12242)
• Indonesia
30 Oct 22
@jobelbojel just call my name and i'll be there 
2 people like this
@May2k8 (18351)
• Indonesia
31 Oct 22
@jobelbojel And there is a characteristic that indicates which area it is from.
@jobelbojel (35461)
• Philippines
31 Oct 22
We spell it as pinto for door. We also have different regional languages, we call dialects.
1 person likes this
@allknowing (135943)
• India
30 Oct 22
A few words and sign language you will be comfortable there
2 people like this
@Shiva49 (26661)
• Singapore
29 Oct 22
I hear the Filipino language spoken often and I am fluent in Indonesian having worked in Indonesia for five years.
However, I cannot understand your language as there are more differences than similarities in my opinion.
And I will add even the Malay language is not the same as Indonesian though the words are almost the same.
2 people like this
@jobelbojel (35461)
• Philippines
29 Oct 22
It is not the language per se. But there are words that are similar in Filipino maybe not the entire context in the sentence but some keywords like what I have on the list. I might not understand the language but I can understand the similar words if I encounter such.
2 people like this
@jobelbojel (35461)
• Philippines
29 Oct 22
@Shiva49 yes some words have different meaning. I only listed those that have. I am not claiming that I would understand the language if I go to Indonesia. Hoping that I can understand what they are saying if I hear the similar words like aku/ako, kami (we/us), lima (five), empat (apat - four)
2 people like this
@Shiva49 (26661)
• Singapore
29 Oct 22
@jobelbojel Agreed, but some words seem to have a different meaning too.
2 people like this
@jobelbojel (35461)
• Philippines
29 Oct 22
Yes my brother! Aku ay may kambing! (Can you guess what I said?
1 person likes this
@jobelbojel (35461)
• Philippines
29 Oct 22
@MrDenata I have a goat. No way, I don't eat goat.
Can you say something in Bahasa?
1 person likes this
@DevMrSamEleazar (14058)
• Philippines
30 Oct 22
well I actually dont know. but if you go to spain I am sure you will understand something.
1 person likes this
@jobelbojel (35461)
• Philippines
30 Oct 22
For sure I can understand the Spanish.
1 person likes this
@jobelbojel (35461)
• Philippines
30 Oct 22
@DevMrSamEleazar Not fully but the words are similar. I can count in Spanish. I can name your utensils in Spanish.
1 person likes this
@DevMrSamEleazar (14058)
• Philippines
30 Oct 22
@jobelbojel oh I see. did not know that, I said that because we are like half spanish.
1 person likes this
@sobellimilk (57)
•
30 Oct 22
wow, cool. iam from Indonesia and i think you would be easy to learn our languange. and now i interest to know more about Philippines languange.
1 person likes this
@jobelbojel (35461)
• Philippines
31 Oct 22
@sobellimilk ok, I hope you find one that is interesting.
@jobelbojel (35461)
• Philippines
30 Oct 22
Good to know. You can check YouTube for similar words. It is interesting to know that there word similarities.
I have seen one documentary that in Indonesia school, our national anthem is being sang by students.
1 person likes this
@snowy22315 (180395)
• United States
30 Oct 22
I imagine some words you will understand and some you will not. I heard them say the Russians and the Ukranians can not understand each other, although there countries are very close together.
1 person likes this
@jobelbojel (35461)
• Philippines
30 Oct 22
I am planning to travel soon. I think it would be costly doing it. But hopefully, I can.
1 person likes this
@RubyHawk (99405)
• Atlanta, Georgia
31 Oct 22
@jobelbojel I’m sure it will be expensive but if that’s what you want I hope you can.
@LindaOHio (177898)
• United States
29 Oct 22
I hope you will be able to understand enough to get along.
1 person likes this
@jobelbojel (35461)
• Philippines
30 Oct 22
Hopefully when I travel. But need to earn more and save more so I can travel.
1 person likes this
@jobelbojel (35461)
• Philippines
31 Oct 22
Not planning to but if God permits, hope to travel soon.
1 person likes this
