Basic Commands and Requests in Indonesian

Overview

Indonesian imperatives are among the simplest in any language: you just use the base form of the verb. Duduk! means "Sit!" and Pergi! means "Go!" However, bare commands can sound harsh, so Indonesians soften them with politeness words like tolong (please/help), silakan (please/go ahead), or mohon (formal please).

Understanding how to soften commands is culturally important in Indonesia, where politeness and indirectness are highly valued. Learning these softening words early will help you communicate respectfully in all situations.

How It Works

Command Formation

Type	Pattern	Example	English
Direct command	Verb!	Duduk!	Sit!
Polite request	Tolong + verb	Tolong duduk.	Please sit.
Invitation	Silakan + verb	Silakan duduk.	Please sit down.
Formal request	Mohon + verb	Mohon tunggu.	Please wait (formal).
Negative command	Jangan + verb	Jangan pergi!	Don't go!
Suggestion	Coba + verb	Coba lihat.	Try looking.

Softening Words

Word	Meaning	Register
tolong	please (request for help)	neutral
silakan	please / go ahead	polite
mohon	please (formal/humble)	formal
coba	try / please (suggestion)	casual
biar	let (someone do)	casual

Politeness Scale

Less polite → More polite
Duduk! → Duduk, ya. → Tolong duduk. → Silakan duduk. → Mohon duduk.

Examples in Context

Indonesian	English	Note
Silakan duduk.	Please sit down.	Polite invitation
Tolong tunggu sebentar.	Please wait a moment.	Neutral request
Jangan khawatir!	Don't worry!	Negative command
Biar saya lihat.	Let me see.	Casual offer
Mohon maaf.	I beg your pardon.	Very formal
Coba ulangi.	Try repeating it.	Suggestion
Masuk!	Come in!	Direct command
Tolong ambilkan saya air.	Please get me some water.	Request with -kan
Jangan lupa bawa payung.	Don't forget to bring an umbrella.	Negative command
Ayo pergi!	Let's go!	Invitation/urging

Common Mistakes

Using bare commands with elders or strangers

• Wrong: Tunggu! (Wait!) to an older person
• Right: Mohon tunggu sebentar. or Tolong tunggu sebentar.
• Why: Direct commands are considered rude toward elders or people you do not know well.

Confusing tolong and silakan

• Wrong: Silakan bantu saya (Go-ahead help me)
• Right: Tolong bantu saya (Please help me)
• Why: Silakan offers or invites; tolong requests help. They are not interchangeable.

Forgetting jangan for negative commands

• Wrong: Tidak pergi! for "Don't go!"
• Right: Jangan pergi!
• Why: Tidak negates statements; jangan is specifically for negative commands.

Practice Tips

1. Practice the politeness scale: take a simple command like Buka (Open) and say it at each level — Buka! → Tolong buka. → Silakan buka. → Mohon buka.
2. Use tolong liberally in all requests — it is the safest, most versatile politeness word and is never wrong.

Related Concepts

• Basic Verb Structure — the verb forms used in commands