Ways to say it
| Indonesian | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| uang | /ˈuaŋ/ (Standard Indonesian) | |
| duit | /ˈduit/ (Standard Indonesian) | |
| fulus | /ˈfulus/ (Standard Indonesian) | colloquial |
| kas | /ˈkas/ (Standard Indonesian) | |
| kontan | /ˈkontan/ (Standard Indonesian) |
The word uang is the most general and standard term used for money in all contexts. For more specific applications, you might use mata uang to refer to currency in a formal sense or nilai uang when discussing the value of money. When referring specifically to small change or coins, the informal phrase uang receh is used.
Which one should you use?
While uang is the neutral, standard term, other words are used for specific contexts. Duit is a popular colloquial term for money, similar to saying 'cash' or 'dough' in English. Fulus is a slang term often used in casual or street contexts. For business or accounting, kas refers specifically to cash on hand or a fund, such as petty cash or company reserves. Finally, kontan is used to describe a transaction made in cash or a spot payment rather than on credit.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Uang is the standard, neutral term suitable for any situation. Duit and fulus are colloquial or slang and should be reserved for informal conversations. In formal or business settings, kas is used for funds and kontan is used for cash transactions.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈuaŋ/
Did you know?
- In Indonesia, the phrase mata uang used for currency literally translates to 'the eye of the money'.
- The word uang likely comes from the Hokkien word oân, which means 'round'. This reflects the shape of the early coins used in trade.
Examples in context
- Ini bukan soal uang.It's not about the money.This sentence shows how to use uang in a negative context regarding a topic.Tatoeba #3472520 by orion17, translation #2192506 by Hybrid
- Kami ingin uang kami.We want our money.This sentence demonstrates a demand for uang.Tatoeba #2762393 by Bilmanda, translation #2011388 by CK
- Dia tidak punya uang.He had no money.This sentence expresses the lack of uang.Tatoeba #11254613 by Pacific, translation #289446 by CK
- 172 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Budi and Maya are deciding how to pay for a meal.
- MayaApakah kamu punya uang tunai?Do you have cash money?
- BudiMaaf, saya tidak bawa uang.Sorry, I didn't bring any money.
- MayaBisa pakai transfer uang saja.We can just use a money transfer.
- BudiIde bagus, Maya.That's a great idea, Maya.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “money” translations and entries uang, duit, fulus, kas, kontan, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries duit, fulus, kas, uang, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
