There are two words to choose from when you want to say ‘room’ in Indonesian: ‘kamar’ and ‘ruang.’ The word ‘kamar’ is adopted from Dutch word ‘kamer’ during Dutch colonization of Indonesia with the same meaning. As Indonesia gained its independence, gradually, some of the Dutch origin vocabularies are either replaced with local languages or English vocabulary.

 

Kamar is referred to as room when it is used to conduct private or personal activities.

Bahasa Indonesia	English
Kamar tidur	Bedroom
Kamar mandi	Bathroom
Kamar kecil	Restroom/lavatory/toilet
Kamar Pas	Fitting room
Kamar ganti pakaian	Changing room

 

Ruang and Kamar are used interchangeable due Indonesians familiarity in both words.

Bahasa Indonesia	English
Kamar/Ruang tamu	Living room
Kamar/Ruang tunggu	Waiting room
Kamar/Ruang makan	Dining room

 

Ruang is referred to as space when it is used for less private activities or its function.

Bahasa Indonesia	English
Ruang pamer	Show room
Ruang pendingin	Cold storage room; cooler
Ruang bermain	Playroom
Ruang cuci pakaian	Laundry room
Ruang rapat	Meeting room
Ruang pasien	Patient room

 

Ruang is referred to as space in scientific terms.

Bahasa Indonesia	English
Ruang Angkasa	Outer space or space
Ruang hampa udara	Vacuum chamber
Ruang waktu	Space-time; spacetime; space time

 

The shift in word usage from ‘kamar’ to ‘ruangan’ referred to as room when it is used for less personal or private activities.

Bahasa Indonesia		English
Previously used	Currently used
Kamar baca	Ruang baca	Reading room
Kamar keluarga	Ruang keluarga	Family room
Kamar belajar	Ruang belajar	Study room

 

Ruang is referred as space when it is used to describe abstract concepts.

Bahasa Indonesia	English
Ruang lingkup	Scope
	Space-time; spacetime; space time
Ruang wanita	Women’s corner; women’s column
Ruang waktu	Space-time; spacetime; space time
Ruang kehidupan	Life space

 

Phrases and expressions

KAMAR

1. Di mana kamar pasnya?

Where is the fitting room?

2. Kamar kecil ada di akhir lorong ini

The restroom is at the end of this hallway.

3. Wah! Rumah kamu kamar tidurnya banyak, ya.

Wow! Your house has  a lot of bedrooms.

4. Kamar tidur utamanya terlalu kecil buat saya.

The master bedroom is too small for me.

5. Saya harus mencetak rol film ini kamar gelap.

I have to print this film at the darkroom.

6. Saya tidak sabar untuk merenovasi kamar mandi

I cannot wait to renovate my bathroom.

 

RUANG

1. Silakan tunggu di ruang tunggu.

Please wait at the waiting room.

2. Tolong simpan bahan-bahan makanannya di ruang pendingin.

Please store the grocery in the cooler.

3. Tolong bilang ke Pak Joko untuk datang ke ruang kerja

Please ask Pak Joko to see me in my office.

4. Saya butuh ruang makan yang lebih besar untuk pesta ini.

I need a bigger dining room for this party.

5. Saya tidak punya ruang untuk bergerak sama sekali.

I don’t have any room to move at all.

6. Di ruang baca perpustakaan, para pembaca harus mematikan suara atau mematikan telepon genggam mereka.

In the library reading room, the readers’ mobile phone should be placed in silent mode or switched off.