10 Indonesian Tongue Twisters We Dare You To Try

Bahasa Indonesia can have some challenging phrases to understand.

Tongue twisters or “pembelit lidah” are just as much a part of Indonesian culture as any other. No matter what language you’re doing one in, it’s always fun to get your tongue in a knot trying to master the various sticky rhymes and labyrinthine limericks!

So here are 10 of our favourite Indonesian tongue twisters…

1) Ular Melingkar Di Atas Pagar
(Translation: A snake coils atop the fence)

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2) Satu Ribu, Dua Biru, Tiga Ribu, Empat Biru… and so on
(Translation: One thousand, two blue, three thousand, four blue…)

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3) Kelapa di Parut, Kepala di Garuk (Repeat)
(Translation: Grate the coconut, scratch your head)

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4) Satu Satay, Tujuh Tusuk (Repeat)
(Translation: One satay, seven sticks)

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5) Tongkat Kontak Tongkol (Repeat)
(Translation: Stick, contact, Cob)

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Okay, now it gets a little harder guys…

6) Dudung, ambilkan dandang di dinding dong, Dung!
(Translation: Dudung, get me the rice-cooker from the wall won’t you, Dung?)

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7) Kucing kuningku, kencing di kunci-kunciku
(Translation: My yellow cat peed on my keys)

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8) Engkau ulung guling ulang ulas suling
(Translation: You are talented at rolling over flute covers)

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9) Kuku kaki kakak-kakak ku kayak kuku kaki kakek-kakek ku
(Translation: My older siblings’ toe nails are like my grandfathers’ toe nails)

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10) Kutuku butuh tubuhku, tapi tubuhku tak butuh kutuku
(Translation: My fleas need my body, but my body doesn’t need my fleas)

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So there you have it, folks, 10 Indonesian tongue twisters to practice… although, we suggest avoiding public practices. Hopefully, your tongue doesn’t need too much straightening out afterwards!