Indonesian vs Tagalog: Which Is Easier, and How Similar Are They?

Key takeaways

• Indonesian is the easier of the two for English speakers (Foreign Service Institute Category II against III).
• Their everyday vocabulary overlaps in places: roughly 2 in 10 everyday words look alike, so some Indonesian words will feel familiar if you know Tagalog, but most will not.
• Start with the one you will actually use; if speed is the goal, Indonesian asks for fewer hours.

How hard is each one?

For an English speaker Indonesian is the easier of the two: the Foreign Service Institute puts it at 828 class hours against 1,012 for Tagalog. These are the figures behind the how long does it take to learn a language calculator, from the US Foreign Service Institute's published language training times.

The hours are for a native English speaker in full-time classes aiming at professional working proficiency. Useful everyday conversation comes sooner, and the calculator breaks the time down by level.

How much do the words overlap?

Their everyday vocabulary overlaps in places: roughly 2 in 10 everyday words look alike, so some Indonesian words will feel familiar if you know Tagalog, but most will not.

A few everyday words that look alike in Indonesian and Tagalog:

And a few everyday words that look completely different:

Writing system and grammar

• Both use the Latin alphabet, so neither asks you to learn a new script, though each has its own spelling rules and special letters.

Which should you learn first?

If your main aim is the fastest route to holding a conversation, Indonesian asks for fewer hours. If you want to reach a particular place, a person or a job, start with the one you will actually use: steady motivation counts for more than the difference in hours.

Frequently asked questions

Is Indonesian easier than Tagalog?

For an English speaker Indonesian is the easier of the two: the Foreign Service Institute puts it at 828 class hours against 1,012 for Tagalog. Hours are for a native English speaker reaching professional working proficiency in full-time classes; casual learning gets you to useful conversation well before that.

How similar are Indonesian and Tagalog?

Their everyday vocabulary overlaps in places: roughly 2 in 10 everyday words look alike, so some Indonesian words will feel familiar if you know Tagalog, but most will not.

Should I learn Indonesian or Tagalog first?

If your main aim is the fastest route to holding a conversation, Indonesian asks for fewer hours. If you want to reach a particular place, a person or a job, start with the one you will actually use: steady motivation counts for more than the difference in hours.

Keep going

• How long does it take to learn Indonesian?
• Indonesian vocabulary test
• How long does it take to learn Tagalog?
• Tagalog vocabulary test

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