The C = Ch Rule
There is no 'K' in Cinta. There is no 'S' in Cepat. C is always Ch.
Hook: The “Kinta” Mistake
If you are reading this, there is a 90% chance you have made this mistake.
You see the word Cinta (Love). Your English brain sees a “C” and thinks of “Cat” or “Cinema”. You say “Sinta” or “Kinta”.
If you say “Sinta”, you are saying a girl’s name. If you say “Kinta”, you are saying nonsense.
In Indonesian, the letter C is never a “K”. It is never an “S”.
It is always “Ch”. Like in Cherry, Church, or Cheat.
This is the single most common “bule” (foreigner) accent marker. Fix this one letter, and your accent improves instantly.
1. The Golden Rule
The Forever Rule
C = Ch. Always. No exceptions.
Indonesian is incredibly consistent. Unlike English, where “C” changes its mind constantly (“Ocean”, “Cat”, “City”), Indonesian “C” is loyal.
- Cinta = Ch-in-ta (Love)
- Cari = Ch-ah-ree (Search)
- Cepat = Ch-uh-pat (Fast)
Listen and Repeat
Tap to hear the “Ch” sound right at the start.
- Cinta (Love) Cinta
- Cium (Kiss) Cium
- Cukup (Enough) Cukup
2. Minimal Pairs: Don’t Change the Meaning
Pronouncing C as S or K isn’t just “having an accent.” It often changes the meaning of the word completely.
| Word (With C) | Meaning | Wrong Sound (S/K) | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cari | To search | Sari | Essence / Pollen |
| Cacat | Defect | Sasa | (MSG Brand) |
| Cukur | Shave | Sukur | (Slang) Serves you right |
| Cokelat | Chocolate | Sokelat | (Nonsense) |
3. Common Mistakes Correction
Let’s look at the most common words that get butchered by English speakers.
The “Selamat Datang” Trap
You will see “Selamat Datang” (Welcome) at every airport. But many foreigners see Kacang (Peanunts) or Kucing (Cat) and revert to the K-sound.
Tourist Mode
Ku-king itu lu-ku.
Local Mode
Ku-ching itu lu-chu.
The “Sinta” Trap
“Cinta” is the word for love. It is in every pop song. If you pronounce it “Sinta”, you sound like you are singing about a specific woman named Sinta, not the emotion of love.
Wrong
Aku Sinta kamu.
Right
Aku Cinta kamu.
4. Practice Drill: 10 “Ch” Sentences
Train your tongue. Read these aloud. Force that “Ch” sound every time you see a C.
Contoh Kalimat
Each sample has sentence, translation, and a pronunciation note. Use the top-right button to hear audio.
-
Cari Cinta yang Cepat.
Look for love that is fast.
Commentary: Keep the opening C crisp as Ch in both Cari and Cepat.
-
Cuci baju di Cuaca cerah.
Wash clothes in bright weather.
Commentary: Say Cu- with a clean Ch start, never Su-.
-
Cukup Cantik dan Cerdas.
Pretty enough and smart.
Commentary: Hit every C consistently so the rhythm stays clear.
-
Cicak suka Cacing.
Geckos like worms.
Commentary: Keep Ci- light and sharp, not heavy like a K-sound.
-
Coba Cicipi Cokelat ini.
Try tasting this chocolate.
Commentary: This is your speed drill. Keep all three C sounds identical.
5. Summary
This was a short unit, but a critical one. You have fixed the number one “bule” error.
- See a C?
- Say Ch.
- Never S, never K.
Next, we tackle the only vowel in Indonesian that actually gets confusing: the letter E.
Why is this in Phase A?
Phase A, Clusters 1, Unit 1.1 on the Rail. Every unit exists in a specific position because learning order matters — prerequisites build naturally toward fluency.
Still confused? Read the previous lesson: Is Indonesian Phonetic? Why It's the Easiest Language to Read
Continue on The Rail
Next up is Unit Unit 1.2: Pepet vs. Taling. Keep moving forward on your path to fluency.