# Learn Indonesian with NativePal > Learn Indonesian with NativePal: levelled reading, vocabulary with spaced repetition, and pronunciation coaching. Free app for iOS and Android. ## Quick facts - Native name: Bahasa Indonesia - Speakers: 200+ million speakers worldwide - Spoken in: Indonesia - Writing system: Latin alphabet, 26 letters - FSI difficulty category: II - Estimated study to professional working proficiency: 900 hours (about 36 weeks full-time, per the US Foreign Service Institute) - Proficiency framework: CEFR (A1, A2, B1, B2, C1, C2) ## What English speakers find hardest about Indonesian - **No tenses, genders, or articles**: Verbs and nouns never change form, and time is indicated with words like sudah and akan. Beginners can build real sentences within days. - **The affix system**: The real work of Indonesian grammar is in prefixes and suffixes such as me-, ber-, -kan and pe-...-an, which reshape a root into related nouns and verbs. This is where intermediate learners stall. - **Reduplication**: Repeating a word makes a plural or changes the meaning, as in buku-buku for books and jalan-jalan for going for a stroll. - **Formal and colloquial are far apart**: Textbook Indonesian differs noticeably from everyday Jakarta speech in pronouns, affixes and vocabulary, so learners often understand the news but not a conversation. ## How you practise Indonesian in NativePal - [Reading Lessons](https://nativepal.app/features/reading-lessons/): Indonesian stories generated for your level, every word tappable for a translation, comprehension quiz at the end. - [Vocabulary & Dictionary](https://nativepal.app/features/vocabulary-and-dictionary/): themed Indonesian vocabulary lessons plus a personal dictionary feeding spaced-repetition flashcards. - [Speaking Practice](https://nativepal.app/features/speaking-practice/): read Indonesian aloud on a teleprompter and get scored on individual sounds, prosody, fluency, and connected speech. - [Daily Challenges](https://nativepal.app/features/daily-challenges/): 60 seconds of freeform Indonesian every day, analysed for grammar, vocabulary, and phrasing. - [Learning Scenarios](https://nativepal.app/features/learning-scenarios/): structured Indonesian lessons from the alphabet for absolute beginners. ## FAQ ### How long does it take to learn Indonesian? The US Foreign Service Institute puts Indonesian at roughly 900 hours of instruction — about 36 weeks full-time — to reach professional working proficiency. Holding a simple conversation comes much sooner: most learners manage it inside the first few months. NativePal shortens the part you control: reading at your level every day, vocabulary that returns before you forget it, and speaking practice that scores your pronunciation instead of just ticking a box. ### What is hardest about Indonesian grammar? No tenses, genders, or articles: Verbs and nouns never change form, and time is indicated with words like sudah and akan. Beginners can build real sentences within days. The affix system: The real work of Indonesian grammar is in prefixes and suffixes such as me-, ber-, -kan and pe-...-an, which reshape a root into related nouns and verbs. This is where intermediate learners stall. Reduplication: Repeating a word makes a plural or changes the meaning, as in buku-buku for books and jalan-jalan for going for a stroll. Formal and colloquial are far apart: Textbook Indonesian differs noticeably from everyday Jakarta speech in pronouns, affixes and vocabulary, so learners often understand the news but not a conversation. ### Is Indonesian hard for English speakers? One of the most approachable Asian languages. Exactly the English alphabet, with regular spelling and no tones or diacritics. Nothing at all to learn here. ### What proficiency levels does NativePal use for Indonesian? NativePal levels your Indonesian practice with CEFR, so reading lessons, vocabulary, and speaking prompts are generated for the level you select rather than a generic average. The ladder runs A1 through to C2. ### Where is Indonesian spoken? Indonesian is spoken in Indonesia, with 200+ million speakers worldwide. ### Can I learn Indonesian as a complete beginner? Yes. NativePal's Learning Scenarios start from the alphabet, numbers, greetings, and how to introduce yourself, with no prior Indonesian assumed. Once those land, reading lessons and vocabulary packs pick up from wherever you are. ### Does NativePal correct my Indonesian pronunciation? Yes. You read Indonesian aloud on a teleprompter and get scored on individual vowels and consonants, stress, rhythm and intonation, fluency, and connected speech — not just a pass or fail. The 60-second daily speaking challenge adds freeform practice on top. ### Can I practise speaking Indonesian, not just reading it? Yes, and it is the most-used part of the app. Speaking Practice is a teleprompter you read aloud for scored pronunciation feedback, the daily challenge gives you 60 seconds of freeform talk, and you can reply with your voice in any chat or roleplay scenario. ### Is NativePal free for learning Indonesian? NativePal is free to start, with a daily allowance across reading, vocabulary, speaking practice, and chats. A premium subscription removes the daily limits and unlocks the longer formats. Prices are set in the App Store and Google Play and vary by region. ### Do I need an account to start learning Indonesian? No. NativePal uses anonymous sign-in, so you can start practising Indonesian without an email address or social login. ## More - [All supported languages](https://nativepal.app/languages.html) - [All features](https://nativepal.app/features/) - [Compare NativePal with other apps](https://nativepal.app/compare/) - [llms.txt](https://nativepal.app/llms.txt)