Animals

1. Anjing

   Dog

   Usage

   The word for the animal. Said to a person it is a strong insult, so keep it to talking about dogs

   Grammar Note

   The ordinary word for a dog, but a swear word when aimed at a person. To say you are afraid of dogs: Abdi sieun anjing

2. Ucing

   Cat

   Usage

   The word for the cats you see around eateries and markets

   Grammar Note

   Ucing is a cat; it is also the word for the "it" player in a game of tag

3. Manuk

   Bird

   Usage

   Use it to point out or ask about a bird

   Grammar Note

   Manuk covers birds in general; it is not the Indonesian burung

4. Lauk

   Fish

   Usage

   The word for a fish from a pond or the sea; also handy when looking for fish dishes on a menu

   Grammar Note

   Lauk means fish, and at the table it can also mean a side dish (lauk laut is sea fish, lauk cai is freshwater fish)

5. Kuda

   Horse

   Usage

   Use it when talking about horse riding or carriages

   Grammar Note

   Kuda is a horse; some highland tourist spots offer horse rides

6. Sapi

   Cow

   Usage

   The word for a cow; beef is daging sapi

   Grammar Note

   Sapi is a cow; cattle are sacrificed at Iduladha

7. Munding

   Water buffalo

   Usage

   The word for the water buffalo that works the paddies

   Grammar Note

   Munding is the Sundanese word for water buffalo, not the Indonesian kerbau

8. Babi

   Pig

   Usage

   Use it when explaining dietary needs. The region is mostly Muslim, so pork is not served in ordinary eateries

   Grammar Note

   Babi is a pig. Said to a person it is an insult, so keep it to the animal and the meat

9. Hayam

   Chicken

   Usage

   The word for chicken; in orders you might say hayam goréng (fried chicken)

   Grammar Note

   Hayam is chicken, the Sundanese form of what Indonesian writes as ayam

10. Meri

    Duck

    Usage

    The word for a duck; menus also use the Indonesian bebek

    Grammar Note

    Meri is the Sundanese word for duck; goose is soang

11. Embé

    Goat

    Usage

    The word for a goat; also useful when asking about goat dishes

    Grammar Note

    Embé is a goat; the é is a clear "eh" sound, different from a plain e (schwa)

12. Domba

    Sheep

    Usage

    The word for a sheep. Garut in West Java is famous for the domba Garut and its sheep contests

    Grammar Note

    Domba is a sheep; do not confuse it with embé (goat)

13. Monyét

    Monkey

    Usage

    The word for a monkey. Monkeys at tourist spots grab bags and food, so keep an eye on your things

    Grammar Note

    Monyét is a monkey; Sundanese spelling puts an é in it

14. Lutung

    Langur

    Usage

    The word for the dark leaf-eating monkey of West Java's forests, seen in nature parks and reserves

    Grammar Note

    Lutung is a kind of monkey (langur), a separate word from the general monyét

15. Oray

    Snake

    Usage

    The word to warn others when you see a snake in the paddies or scrub

    Grammar Note

    Oray is a snake, not the Indonesian ular

16. Buaya

    Crocodile

    Usage

    The word for a crocodile, seen in river warnings and at zoos

    Grammar Note

    Buaya is a crocodile, the same word as in Indonesian

17. Penyu

    Sea turtle

    Usage

    The word for the sea turtles of beaches such as Pangandaran. Their eggs are protected, so do not buy them

    Grammar Note

    Penyu is the sea turtle; kuya is the land tortoise

18. Kuya

    Tortoise

    Usage

    The word for a tortoise or turtle that lives on land or in ponds

    Grammar Note

    Kuya is the land or freshwater turtle; the sea turtle is penyu

19. Bangkong

    Frog

    Usage

    The word for the frogs that call all night in the paddies in the rainy season

    Grammar Note

    Bangkong is a frog, not the Indonesian katak

20. Kadal

    Lizard

    Usage

    The word for a lizard running through gardens and grass

    Grammar Note

    Kadal is a lizard, not the gecko on the wall

21. Beurit

    Rat

    Usage

    Use it to report a rat at your guesthouse

    Grammar Note

    Beurit is a rat or mouse, not the Indonesian tikus

22. Bajing

    Squirrel

    Usage

    The word for a squirrel seen in forests and parks

    Grammar Note

    Bajing is the squirrel, the counterpart of Indonesian tupai

23. Kalong

    Flying fox

    Usage

    The word for the large fruit bats that pour out of fruit trees and bamboo groves at dusk

    Grammar Note

    Kalong is the large fruit bat; the small bat is lalay

24. Reungit

    Mosquito

    Usage

    Use it when asking for a coil or repellent. Mosquitoes carry dengue, so protection matters

    Grammar Note

    Reungit is a mosquito, not the Indonesian nyamuk

25. Laleur

    Fly

    Usage

    The word for the flies around food at markets and stalls

    Grammar Note

    Laleur is a fly, not the Indonesian lalat

26. Sireum

    Ant

    Usage

    Ants find anything sweet within minutes, so do not leave food out in your room

    Grammar Note

    Sireum is an ant, not the Indonesian semut

27. Nyiruan

    Bee

    Usage

    Say it in advance if you are allergic to stings

    Grammar Note

    Nyiruan is the honey bee, the counterpart of Indonesian lebah

28. Kukupu

    Butterfly

    Usage

    The word for a butterfly in gardens and nature parks

    Grammar Note

    Kukupu is the butterfly, with a reduplicated shape; kupu is also seen

29. Lancah

    Spider

    Usage

    Use it to report a spider in your room

    Grammar Note

    Lancah is a spider, not the Indonesian laba-laba

30. Ubur-ubur

    Jellyfish

    Usage

    Use it to ask locals whether there are jellyfish before you swim

    Grammar Note

    Ubur-ubur is a jellyfish; the sting hurts, so check before swimming

31. Maung

    Tiger

    Usage

    The word for a tiger, also in "Maung Bandung", the nickname of the Persib football club

    Grammar Note

    Maung is the tiger; other big cats have their own names

32. Gajah

    Elephant

    Usage

    The word for an elephant at zoos and reserves

    Grammar Note

    Gajah is an elephant, the same word as in Indonesian

33. Badak

    Rhinoceros

    Usage

    Ujung Kulon National Park in West Java is the last refuge of the Javan rhino

    Grammar Note

    Badak is a rhino; the Javan rhino is called Badak Jawa

Browse all TravelPhrases languages