Indonesian Vocabulary Update

The Indonesian word "\( \textbf{buming}\)" translates to English as "booming" but has the following significance in everyday language:

In everyday Indonesian conversation (bahasa gaul), "buming" is the phonetic spelling of the English word "booming."

It is used to describe something that has suddenly become incredibly popular, is trending, or is "exploding" in the market or social consciousness.

1. The Core Meaning

Just like the English "business is booming," Indonesians use this to describe a sudden spike in popularity. It is often interchangeable with the word viral, though buming implies a high volume of activity or sales rather than just internet fame.

• Context: It is strictly informal. You will see it in text messages, social media comments, and casual spoken conversation.

• Spelling: While many Indonesians will still write "booming" (English spelling), you will frequently see "buming" in text chats (WhatsApp) where phonetic spelling is common to save keystrokes or add a casual flair.

2. Common Usage & Examples

Here is how you will hear it used in Jakarta:

Example A: Regarding a new trend (Food/Fashion)

• Indonesian: "Wah, es kopi susu gula aren lagi buming banget sekarang."

• English: "Wow, palm sugar iced coffee is really booming (trending/everywhere) right now."

Example B: Regarding a song or movie

• Indonesian: "Film horor itu langsung buming gara-gara masuk TikTok."

• English: "That horror movie immediately blew up (became a hit) because it got on TikTok."

Example C: Regarding Business

• Indonesian: "Usahanya lagi buming, dia sampai kewalahan terima order."

• English: "His business is booming, he's actually overwhelmed accepting orders."

3. "Buming" vs. "Viral"

While often used for the same things, there is a slight nuance:

• Viral: Usually refers specifically to internet content (videos, memes, tweets) that spreads fast.

• Buming: Can refer to internet content, but is also heavily used for market trends, businesses, commodity prices, or hobbies (e.g., "Sepeda lipat lagi buming" - Folding bikes are really trending).

Finally, "While the Indonesian language has more formal words like melejit (soaring) or populer (popular), "buming" is the go-to informal term in social media and casual conversation to capture the "hype" of a specific moment."

*********************************

Another word I came across today was "\( \textbf{jamret}\)":

It is extremely likely that the word you are encountering is "Jambret" (pronounced jam-bret). It is common for the "b" sound to be softened in rapid speech, or for non-native speakers to miss it, resulting in the spelling "jamret."

This is a critical word to know while living in Jakarta.

1. The Core Meaning

Jambret means "snatch thief."

It specifically refers to a thief who snatches an item (purse, phone, necklace) using speed and force, usually while riding a motorcycle or running past the victim. It is distinct from other types of theft because the victim is aware it is happening the moment it occurs, but it happens too fast to stop.

2. Usage & Examples

You will hear this word used in warnings or when retelling an unfortunate event.

Example A: The Warning (Most Common)

• Indonesian: "Hati-hati main HP di pinggir jalan, banyak jambret!"

• English: "Be careful playing with your cellphone on the roadside, there are lots of snatch thieves!"

Example B: Retelling an Incident

• Indonesian: "Kalung dia kena jambret pas lagi nunggu Gojek."

• English: "Her necklace got snatched while she was waiting for a Gojek."

Example C: The Active Verb (Menjambret)

• Indonesian: "Dia ditangkap karena mencoba menjambret tas turis."

• English: "He was arrested for trying to snatch a tourist's bag."

3. Important Distinctions: Jambret vs. Copet vs. Maling

Indonesian has specific words for different types of theft. Mixing them up can confuse police or security guards.

Word	Action	English Equivalent
\( \textbf{Jambret}\)	Takes by force/speed (often on a motorbike). You feel it happen.	Snatch Thief
\( \textbf{Copet}\)	Takes by stealth (unzipping a bag in a crowd). You don't feel it happen.	Pickpocket
\( \textbf{Maling}\)	General term for a thief, usually breaking into a house or stealing a parked car.	Burglar / Thief
\( \textbf{Rampok}\)	Involves weapons or threat of violence (entering a bank or stopping a car).	Robber

I also found reference to the following words but haven't checked them out yet with the native speakers around me.

"If you are looking for other common Indonesian slang or phrases to navigate daily life, you might also find these useful:

• \( \textbf{Goks}\): Short for \( \textbf{gokil}\), meaning "crazy" or "awesome".
• \( \textbf{Baper}\): An abbreviation for \( \textbf{bawa perasaan}\), used when someone is being "overly sensitive" or "taking things to heart".
• \( \textbf{Mager}\): Short for \( \textbf{malas gerak}\), used when you're feeling too lazy to move or do anything."