Indonesian

Indonesian is the official language of Indonesia, spoken by over 23 million people. It is a standardised form of Malay, and is closely related to other Malay languages such as Malaysian, Singaporean, and Brunei Malay.

Indonesian is a relatively easy language to learn for English speakers, with a relatively simple grammar and a relatively small vocabulary. However, as with any language, there are some aspects which may be more challenging for learners, such as the multiple register levels, complex verb system, and unusual word order.

Indonesian is a form of Malay which was used as a lingua franca throughout the Indonesian archipelago from the 13th to 17th centuries. It is a standardized form of the Riau dialect of Malay and became the basis for the Malaysian national language. Indonesian was also influenced by other local languages such as Javanese, Sundanese, Minangkabau, and Acehnese. The Indonesian language has been used as a medium of instruction in schools since the Indonesian National Revolution in 1945–1949.

Indonesian has been declared as one of the easiest languages to learn by the Foreign Service Institute (FSI) of the US Department of State. The FSI has rated Indonesian as a Category I language, which means that it is one of the easiest languages to learn for English speakers.