enak
/ˈɛnak/
The English phrase "tasty" is translated into Indonesian as enak.
The primary way to say something is tasty or delicious is by using enak. While this word is most commonly used to describe the pleasant flavor of food, it is also frequently used colloquially in other contexts to mean "comfortable" or "pleasant".
Which one should you use?
While enak is the standard and most common way to express that food is tasty, you may encounter lezat, which is a more formal or literary synonym for delicious. For more intense or enthusiastic expressions, slang terms like maknyus and mantap are used to convey that something is incredibly tasty.
Is it said differently in some regions?
The slang term maknyus is specifically used in Javanese and Jakarta slang to express that something is exceptionally tasty.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈɛnak/
Did you know?
- If someone says tidak enak hati, they are not talking about taste but are expressing that they feel uneasy or guilty.
- Indonesians may use enak to describe the sound of a song or a voice, meaning it is 'pleasant' to the ear.
- The word mantap describes food that is tasty but literally translates to 'firm' or 'steady'.
Examples in context
- Masakan ini enak.This dish is tasty.This sentence demonstrates how to use enak to describe a dish.Tatoeba #8550198 by Jepang, translation #1058172 by ArizonaJim
- Makanan ini sangat enak!This food is very tasty!
- Kue itu enak sekali!That cake is so tasty!
- Sop ini sangat sedap.This soup is very tasty.
- Ayam gorengnya terasa sedap sekali.The fried chicken tastes really delicious.
- Makanan ini enak banget, maknyus!This food is really tasty, delicious!
- Mantap banget makanannya!The food is seriously delicious!
- Sambal oncom-nya pedas banget, enak lah!The oncom chili paste is very spicy, but tasty!
- Sate ayam ini sangat enak.This chicken satay is very tasty.
- Apakah sup ini enak?Is this soup tasty?
Example conversation
Indah and Rian are eating at a small food stall.
- IndahRian, apakah makanan ini enak?Rian, is this food tasty?
- RianYa, ini sangat enak!Yes, this is very tasty!
- IndahAku juga sangat suka rasanya.I also really like the flavor.
- RianMari kita pesan satu lagi.Let's order one more.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry enak, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
