Ways to say it
| Indonesian | IPA |
|---|---|
| anjing | /ˈand͡ʒiŋ/ (Standard Indonesian) |
| asu | /ˈasu/ (Standard Indonesian) |
anjing is the standard noun for the animal. In informal Indonesian slang, however, anjing can also be used as an interjection to express emotions such as surprise, anger or frustration, similar to how one might use 'damn' in English.
Which one should you use?
While anjing is the standard word for the animal, asu is a vulgar slang term used specifically as an insult.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
anjing is the standard and widely understood term. In contrast, asu is a vulgar term and should be used with caution as it is considered offensive in many contexts.
Is it said differently in some regions?
anjing is the most widely understood term for 'dog' in Jakarta and throughout the Indonesian language.
How does it change in a sentence?
The form Anjingku is used to mean 'my dog'.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈandʒiŋ/
When do people say it?
Because anjing can function as an interjection for frustration and asu is a vulgar insult, be aware of the social weight these words carry beyond simply naming the animal.
Did you know?
- In traditional Javanese culture, which heavily influences Indonesian, dogs were historically viewed with suspicion or as spiritually unclean.
- Because anjing is so commonly used as a swear word, some Indonesians use the English word 'dog' or a euphemism to avoid sounding rude.
- The root for 'dog' in Indonesian can be traced back to the Proto-Austronesian word *asu, which was spoken thousands of years ago.
Examples in context
- Anjingku tidak di sini.My dog isn't here.This sentence shows how to say 'my dog' using the form anjing.Tatoeba #12437609 by HAGNi, translation #8456124 by CK
- Aku melihat anjing itu.I see the dog.This sentence demonstrates the use of the form anjing to refer to a specific dog.Tatoeba #13745013 by HAGNi, translation #862477 by lugal
- Aku punya anjing kecil.I have a small dog.This sentence uses the form anjing to describe owning a small dog.Tatoeba #13975938 by HAGNi, translation #13232679 by Vortarulo
- 87 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Putri and Budi are walking in a park.
- PutriLihat, ada anjing lucu di sana!Look, there is a cute dog over there!
- BudiWah, anjing itu sangat besar ya.Wow, that dog is very big, isn't it.
- PutriApakah kamu suka anjing, Budi?Do you like dogs, Budi?
- BudiYa, aku sangat suka anjing.Yes, I like dogs very much.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “dog” translations and entries anjing, asu, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries anjing, asu, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
