Before the Dutch and the British ever set foot in the archipelago, the Portuguese were already here. Arriving in the early 16th century, they were the first Westerners to establish trade and missionary networks in the region. Though their colonial control did not last long, their influence on local culture, language, and even taste did.
The Portuguese were not just traders of spices but also of words. They brought with them a new linguistic flavor that blended naturally with Malay, which was then the lingua franca of Southeast Asian trade. Over time, many of these words became so deeply rooted that most Indonesians today use them without realizing their foreign origin.
Words That Traveled Across Oceans
Many everyday words in Bahasa Indonesia have Portuguese roots, surviving long after their speakers departed. Here are some of the most enduring examples:
- Meja (from mesa, meaning table)
- Jendela (from janela, meaning window)
- Sekolah (from escola, meaning school)
- Sepatu (from sapato, meaning shoe)
- Pesta (from festa, meaning party or celebration)
- Minggu (from domingo, meaning Sunday)
- Lelang (from leilão, meaning auction)
- Bendera (from bandeira, meaning flag)
Each of these words tells a story of interaction between local communities and Portuguese traders, sailors, and missionaries. The borrowing did not happen through domination alone but also through daily exchanges in markets, ports, and places of worship.
Interestingly, some words like bendera were inherited from Portuguese rather than Dutch, showing that linguistic influence often followed cultural proximity rather than political power.
Beyond Words: The Spirit of Cultural Exchange
Language is one of the most lasting forms of contact between civilizations. The Portuguese influence in Indonesia is a reminder that interaction between East and West was not limited to conquest or commerce but also to curiosity and communication.
Malay and Portuguese blended in a way that was practical, human, and creative. The local population adopted foreign words to describe new concepts, while Portuguese settlers absorbed local expressions to survive and connect. The result was a shared vocabulary that transcended identity and time.
Even today, some communities in eastern Indonesia, such as in Maluku and Flores, still preserve Portuguese expressions in local dialects. Songs, church liturgies, and even family names carry traces of that linguistic fusion.
Language as a Bridge to the Present
Five centuries later, the Portuguese legacy in Indonesia is still visible not only in words but also in policy conversations. Recently, President Prabowo opened a public discussion about the possibility of introducing the Portuguese language in Indonesian schools and universities.
The proposal reflects a growing awareness of the historical connection between Indonesia and Lusophone countries such as Portugal, Brazil, and Timor-Leste. More than just a diplomatic gesture, this idea highlights how language can serve as a bridge between past and future, linking historical ties to modern global cooperation.
It also underlines an important point: learning a language is not merely about vocabulary, but about understanding shared history and appreciating cultural roots that still influence daily life today.
A Living Legacy
From the ports of Malacca to the markets of Maluku, the Portuguese left behind more than forts and churches. Their greatest legacy was intangible, a linguistic imprint that continues to shape how Indonesians speak and think.
Words like meja, jendela, or pesta may seem ordinary, but they remind us that Indonesia’s story is one of openness and adaptation. Through trade, faith, and friendship, the Portuguese introduced ideas that became part of local identity, showing that influence does not always come through power, but through exchange.
Centuries may have passed since the first Portuguese ships sailed through the archipelago, but their echoes still live on in every conversation, every classroom, and every celebration where those words are spoken.
Language, after all, is memory, and in the case of Indonesia, it is a memory that speaks Portuguese.
