Last updated: April 24, 2026
Learn Indonesian in 30 Days — Week-by-Week Plan
Reach A1 Indonesian (absolute beginner → basic survival) in 30 days with this proven 4-week roadmap. Requires 20-30 minutes of daily practice. Based on FSI Category II estimates and the CEFR framework.
Goal
A1 CEFR — basic phrases, greetings, survival conversation
Daily commitment
20-30 minutes of focused practice (consistency > intensity)
Total time
~12 hours of focused practice + 4 hours immersion (music, YouTube)
The 4-week roadmap
Foundation — alphabet, pronunciation, first 50 words
20 min/day (140 min total)
Goals
- Master the 26 letters (same as English) and the 5 pronunciation pitfalls
- Learn 50 high-frequency words: greetings, politeness, pronouns
- Say your name and ask someone theirs
- Pronounce c, e, r, ng, ny correctly
Key vocabulary
- Selamat pagi / siang / malam (good morning / day / night)
- Saya / kamu / dia (I / you / he-she)
- Terima kasih / Maaf / Tolong / Permisi
- Ya / Tidak / Baik / Apa / Siapa
Sentence building — basic verbs and time markers
25 min/day (175 min total)
Goals
- Understand Subject-Verb-Object word order
- Use time markers (kemarin, sekarang, besok) since verbs don't conjugate
- Form 20 simple sentences
- Master numbers 1-20 (satu to dua puluh)
Key vocabulary
- makan (eat), minum (drink), pergi (go), datang (come)
- tidur (sleep), bekerja (work), belajar (study), bicara (speak)
- kemarin / hari ini / besok (yesterday / today / tomorrow)
- di sini / di sana / di mana (here / there / where)
Travel basics — directions, transport, money
25 min/day (175 min total)
Goals
- Ask for directions and understand locations
- Count to 1,000,000 (ratus, ribu, juta)
- Order food and drinks in a restaurant
- Bargain politely in markets (Boleh kurang?)
Key vocabulary
- Berapa harganya? (How much?)
- Boleh kurang? / Terlalu mahal (Discount? / Too expensive)
- Bandara / Stasiun / Pelabuhan (Airport / Station / Harbor)
- Jalan lurus / belok kiri / belok kanan (Go straight / turn left / right)
Conversation — A1 completion
30 min/day (210 min total)
Goals
- Hold a 3-minute conversation on everyday topics (family, work, hobbies)
- Use adjectives in Indonesian order (noun first, then adjective)
- Understand and use the 6 most common affixes (ber-, me-, ter-, di-, -an, -kan)
- Pass an A1 self-assessment (CEFR)
Key vocabulary
- Keluarga (family), pekerjaan (work), hobi (hobby)
- Bagaimana? / Kenapa? / Kapan? (How? / Why? / When?)
- Saya suka / Saya tidak suka (I like / I don't like)
- Senang / Sedih / Marah / Takut (Happy / Sad / Angry / Afraid)
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I really learn Indonesian in 30 days?+
You can reach a solid A1 level (absolute beginner → basic survival phrases) in 30 days with 20-30 minutes of daily practice. Expect basic conversation (A2) in 3-4 months and professional fluency (B2) in 12-18 months. Indonesian is FSI Category II.
How much time per day do I need?+
20-30 minutes of focused daily practice beats 3 hours once a week. Consistency is the single biggest predictor of success. Add 1-2 hours of passive immersion per week (Indonesian music, YouTube, podcasts) for bonus progress.
What should I focus on in the first week?+
Week 1 should be 100% pronunciation + alphabet + 50 high-frequency words. Don't try to build sentences yet. The 5 pronunciation pitfalls (c as "ch", two e sounds, rolled r, ng/ny, stress) are the foundation for everything else.
What comes after 30 days?+
You should be at solid A1 (CEFR). Next goal: A2 (basic conversation) in 2-3 more months by adding more vocabulary (target: 1000 active words), practicing dialogue, and reading simple texts.
Do I need a teacher or can I self-study?+
Self-study works for A1 and most of A2 if you use a structured method (app, textbook, course). Above B1, a teacher or language partner helps you correct pronunciation. IndoLingua's native audio and dictation exercises train your ear and pronunciation in between.
Why are you learning Indonesian?
Pick your path — we tailor everything to your goal.
Free Resources to Learn Indonesian
Complete guides, comparisons and practical tips
Beginner Guide — Where to Start
Alphabet, pronunciation, essential grammar, first 100 words, 30-day roadmap to A1
Read the guideLearn Indonesian — Complete Guide
A1-C2 levels, methods, duration, app comparison
Read the guideEssential Phrases for Travelers
50+ practical phrases for Bali, Jakarta, markets
Read the guideIndonesian vs Malay: Key Differences
80% mutual intelligibility, vocabulary, grammar
Read the guideBest App to Learn Indonesian
2026 comparison: IndoLingua vs Duolingo, Babbel, Pimsleur
Read the guideHow Long to Learn Indonesian?
FSI timeline: 900h total from A1 to C2
Read the guideIndoLingua · indolingua.fr · Learn Indonesian from A1 to C2
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