At first glance, Romanian and Indonesian seem very different: one is a European Romance language, the other belongs to the Austronesian family. And yet there are many words that sound and look almost identical, such as academic – akademik, academician – akademisi, academie – akademi.
How can this coincidence be explained?
The influence of Latin and Western languages
After centuries of evolution, Romanian kept its Latin roots, while Indonesian, although it has its own structure and core vocabulary, borrowed massively from European languages, especially Dutch, English, and Portuguese.
Many of these borrowings come from the Dutch colonial period (16th–20th centuries), when scientific, academic, and administrative terms were taken directly from the international vocabulary of the era, based on Latin and French.
Thus words such as akademik, universitas, doktor, literatur, politika or teknologi are the result of Western influence, not a direct link between Romanian and Indonesian.
The globalization of scientific language
In scientific, educational, and technological fields, Latin became a global standard. That is why many languages, regardless of origin, use the same roots for "international" terms.
Romanian inherited these terms directly from Latin or via French and Italian, while Indonesian adopted them later via Dutch and English. The result: striking similarities between two languages that are geographically and genealogically distant.
Conclusion
The similarities between Romanian and Bahasa Indonesia are not accidental, but the result of a shared cultural and scientific heritage of European civilization, transmitted globally through colonization, education, and international communication.
These linguistic parallels are a fascinating example of how the world's languages influence one another, even across thousands of kilometers.
Examples of similar words
academic - akademik
academician - akademisi
academie - akademi
acces - akses
a consuma - konsumsi
actiune - aksi
activitate - aktivitas
actor - aktor
administratie - administrasi (ENG)
administrativ - administratif (ENG)
administrator - administrator (ENG)
agent - agen (ENG)
agentie - agensi (ENG)
aici - ini
a instala - instal (ENG)
album - album
alcool - alkohol
alcoolic - alkoholik
alergen - alergen
alergic - alergis
alergie - alergi
alocatie - alokasi
a manca - makan
ambulanta - ambulans
analist - analis (ENG)
analiza - analisis (ENG)
ananas - nanas
anormal - abnormal
anti - anti
antimaterie - antimateri
antioxidant - antioksidan (ENG)
antivirus - antivirus
apartament - apartament
aplicatie - aplikasi
aplicativ - aplikatif
aprilie - april
a pulsa - pulsa
aroma - aroma
aromatic - aromatik
articol - artikel
artist - artis
asigurare - asuransi
asistent - asisten
atlet - atlet
atletic - atletik
audio - audio
audiovisual - audiovisual
auditiv - auditif
august - Agustus
aula - aula
automatic - otomatis (ENG)
automatizare - otomatisasi (ENG)
bagaj - bagasi (ENG)
balcon - balkon (ENG)
bambus - bambu
banca - bangku
banca - bank
bar - bar
baschet - basket (ENG)
baterie - baterai
baza - basis
bere - bir
bezina - bensin
biochimie - biokimia
biodiesel - biodiesel (ENG)
biomasa - biomassa
biscuit - biskuit
bit - bita (ENG)
bloc - blok
blog - blog
blogger - blogger
bomba - bom
bonus - bonus (ENG)
boss - bos
broccoli - brokoli
Buddha - Buddha
business - bisnis
cablu - kabel
cacao - kakao
cadou - kado (FR)
cafea - kopi
cafe - kafe
calciu - kalsium (ENG)
calendar - kalender
calitate - kualitas
camasa - kemeja
camera (foto) - kamera
camera - kamar
campus - kampus
cancer - kanker
cantina - kantin (ENG)
capitan - kapten
caracter - karakter
carbon - karbon (ENG)
cariera (profesie) - karier
carpeta - karpet
cash - kas (ENG)
casier - kasir (ENG)
catalogare - katalogisasi (ENG)
catalog - katalog (ENG)
categorie - kategori
catolic - katolik
cauza - kasus
cec - cek
central - sentar
cereale - sereal (ENG)
certificare - sertifikasi
certificat - sertifikat
chimic - kimiawi
chimie - kimia
ciocolata - cokelat
civil - sipil (ENG)
clica - klik
client - klien (ENG)
clinica - klinik
clip - klip (ENG)
club - klub
cod - kode (ENG)
coeficient - koefisien
cofactor - kofaktor
colectie - koleksi
colectiv - kolektif
comando - komando (ENG)
combinatie - kombinasi
comedian - komedian (ENG)
comedie - komedi (ENG)
comentariu - komentar
comic - komik
comisar - komisaris
comisie - komisi
comisionar - komisioner
comitet - komite (ENG)
compas - kompas
competitie - kompetisi
competitiv - kompetitif
complexitate - kompleksitas
complex - kompleks
computer - komputer
comunicatie - komunikasi
conceptie - konsepsi
concept - konsep
conceptual - konseptual
concert - konser
conditie - kondisi
conectivitate - konektivitas
conexiune - koneksi
conferinta - konferensi (ENG)
confirmare - konfirmasi (ENG)
constituent - konstituen (ENG)
constitutie - konstitusi (ENG)
constitutional - konstitusional (ENG)
constructie - konstruksi (ENG)
constructiv - konstruktif (ENG)
contact - kontak
context - konteks
contextual - kontekstual
continut - konten
contract - kontrak
contractor - kontraktor
control - kontrol
conventie - konvensi (ENG)
conventional - konvensional (ENG)
coordinare - koordinasi
coordonata - koordinat (ENG)
coordonator - koordinator (ENG)
Coran - qur-an
corectie - koreksi (ENG)
corectiv - korektif (ENG)
coruptie - korupsi (ENG)
corupt - korup (ENG)
coruptor - koruptor (ENG)
creatie - kreasi
creativitate - kreativitas
creativ - kreatif
credit - kredit
crema - krim
criminalitate - kriminalitas (ENG)
criminalizare - kriminalisasi (ENG)
criminal - kriminal (ENG)
critic - kritis
cufar - koper
cupon - kupon
curricular - kurikuler (ENG)
curriculum - kurikulum (ENG)
curs - kursus
da - Iya
date - data
debit - debit (ENG)
debitor - debitur (ENG)
decembrie - Desember
demineralizare - demineralisasi (ENG)
democrat - demokrat (ENG)
democratic - demokratis (ENG)
democratie - demokrasi (ENG)
demonstratie - demonstrasi
demonstrator - demonstran
departament - departamen
dependent - dependen (ENG)
deputat - deputi
descentralizare - desentralisasi
descriere - deskripsi (ENG)
descriptiv - deskriptif (ENG)
design - desain
dezbatere - debat (ENG)
diarie - diare
diesel - diesel (ENG)
dieta - diet
digital - digital
digitalizare - digitalisasi
directiune (grup) - direksi (ENG)
director - direktur
discount - diskon
discutie - diskusi
divizie - divisi (ENG)
doctoral - doktoral (ENG)
doctor - dokter
doctor - doktor
document - dokumen
doi - dua
domestic - domestik (ENG)
drama - drama
duo - duo (ENG)
durian - durian
economie - ekonomi
editie - edisi
editor - editor
efect - efek
efectiv - efektif
efectivitate - efektivitas
eficienta - efisiensi
eficient - efisien
electro - elektro
electromagnetic - elektromagnetik (ENG)
electronic - elektronik
emotie - emosi
energie - energi
executiv - eksekutif (ENG)
export - ekspor
extracurricular - ekstrakurikuler (ENG)
fabrica - pabrik
facilitate - fasilitas
facilitator - fasilitator
factor - faktor
factorial - faktorial
factual - faktual
facultate - fakultas (ENG)
facultativ - fakultatif (ENG)
fals - palsu (POR)
fapt - fakta
farmacie - farmasi
farmacologie - farmakologi
favorit - favorit
favoritism - favoritisme
februarie - Februari
festival - festival (ENG)
film - film
final - final
fizica - fisik
focus - fokus
formal - formal
formalitate - formalitas
format - format
forum - forum
foto - foto
functie - fungsi
functional - fungsional
garaj - garasi
gaz - gas
gel - gel (ENG)
general - jenderal
generatie - generasi
generator - generator
geofizica - geofisik
global - global
golf - golf
gong - gong (ENG)
gorila - gorila (ENG)
gram - gram
gratis - gratis
grup - grup
guvernator - gubernur
hei - hei
helicopter - helikopter (ENG)
hidrogel - hidrogel (ENG)
hijab - hijab
hindu - hindu
hobby - hobi
hotel - hotel
iaurt - yoghurt
ideal - ideal (ENG)
idealism - idealisme (ENG)
idealist - idealis (ENG)
idee - ide
identificare - identifikasi (ENG)
Iisus - Yesus
ilegal - ilegal (ENG)
import - impor
independenta - independensi (ENG)
independent - independen (ENG)
individ - individu
individual - individual
industrie - industri
infectie - infeksi (ENG)
informal - informal
informatie - informasi
infrastructura - infrastruktur (ENG)
inginer - insinyur (ENG)
instalatie - instalasi (ENG)
instant - instan (ENG)
institut - institusi
institutional - institusional
instructiune - instruksi (ENG)
instructor - instruktur (ENG)
intens - intens (ENG)
intensitate - intensitas (ENG)
intensiv - intensif (ENG)
internet - internet
intern - internal (ENG)
interpersonal - interpesona
investitie - investasi (ENG)
investitor - investor (ENG)
islam - islam
iulie - Juli
iunie - Juni
jacheta - jaket
januarie - Januari
jet - jet
jurnalistic - jurnalistik (ENG)
jurnalist - jurnalis (ENG)
jurnal - jurnal (ENG)
karaoke - karaoke (JP)
keyboard - keyboard (ENG)
kilo (kilogram, kilometru) - kilo (kilogram, kilometer)
laborator - laboratorium (ENG)
lamaie - lemon
lampa - lampu
legalitate - legalitas (ENG)
legal - legal (ENG)
lift - lift
liga - liga
liric - lirik
litru - liter
lobby - lobi
local - lokal
locatie - lokasi
logo - logo
magnetic - magnetik (ENG)
magnet - magnet (ENG)
mai - Mei
maioneza - mayones
malarie - malaria
mall - mal
malnutritie - malnutrisi (ENG)
mama - mamak
management - manajemen
managerial - manajerial
manager - manajer
mango - mangga
manual - manual (ENG)
martie - Maret
masa (multime) - massa
masca - masker
masina - mesin
master - master (ENG)
matematica - matematika
matematic - matematis
materialism - materialisme
material - material
materie - materi
maximal - maksimal
maximum - maksimum
Mecca - makkah (AR)
medalie - medali
medalion - medalion
media - media
medical - medis
meniu - menu
mentalitate - mentalitas
mental - mental
metoda - metode
metro - metro
metru - meter
microcontroller - mikrokontroler
mila (distanta) - mil (ENG)
militar - militer
militie - milisi
mineralizare - mineralisasi (ENG)
minereu - mineral (ENG)
minim - minimal
minus - minus (ENG)
minut - menit
mobil - mobil
model - model
modern - modern
monitor - monitor
monumental - monumental (ENG)
monument - monumen (ENG)
moralitate - moralitas (ENG)
moral - moral (ENG)
motivare - motivasi
motor - motor
multivitamina - multivitamin (ENG)
musulman - muslim
muzeu - museum
muzica - musik
neconventional - inkonvensional (ENG)
negativ - negatif
negociere - negosiasi (ENG)
noiembrie - November
normalizare - normalisasi
normal - normal
nul - nol
numar - nomor
nume - nama
nutrient - nutrien (ENG)
nutritie - nutrisi (ENG)
nuvela - novel (ENG)
nuvelist - novelis (ENG)
obiectivitate - objektivitas
obiectiv - objektif
obiect - objek
octombrie - Oktober
olimpiada - olimpiade
operatie - operasi
operational - operasional
oraganizatie - organisasi
oranj - oranye
organic - organik
organism - organisme
organ - organ
oxidare - oksidasi (ENG)
oxigen - oksigen (ENG)
pachet - paket
panel - panel (ENG)
papaia - pepaya
paprika - paprika
paramedic - paramedis
parcare - parkir
pasaport - paspor
paste - pasta
pastoral - pastoral
pastor - pastor
perioada - periode
periodic - periodik
periodizare - periodisasi
permisiune - permisi
persoana - person
personal - personal
piersica - persik
pilot - pilot
pipa - pipa
pistol - pistol (ENG)
pizza - piza
planeta - planet
planetarium - planetarium
plastic - plastik
plus - plus
poem - puisi
poetic - puitis
poezie - puisi
politica - politik
politist - polisi
popularitate - popularitas
popular - populer
populatie - populasi
poster - poster (ENG)
pozitie - posisi
pozitiv - positif
precis - persis
presa (mass media) - pers
presedinte - presiden
prim - prima (ENG)
privatizare - privatisasi (ENG)
privat - privat (ENG)
proces - proses
producator - produsen
producator - produser (ENG)
produs - produk
profesie - profesi
profesionalism - profesionalis
profesor - profesor
programer - programator
program - program
proiect - proyek
promo - promo
promotie - promosi
provincie - provinsi
public - publik
punct - poin
racheta - roket
radio - radio
ramadan - ramadan
raspuns - respons
realitate - realitas (ENG)
realizare - realisasi (ENG)
real - real (ENG)
reasigurare - reasuransi
reconstructie - rekonstruksi (ENG)
recorder - rekorder
record - rekor
regenerare - regenerasi
regionalism - regionalisme
regional - region
regiune - region
regulament - regulasi (ENG)
regulator - regulator (ENG)
relativism - relativisme (ENG)
relativitate - relativitas (ENG)
relativ - relatif (ENG)
renegociere - renegosiasi (ENG)
republica - republik
reset - reset
respondent - responden
restaurant - restoran
reteta - resep (ENG)
reunificare - reunifikasi
reuniune - reuni
risc - risiko (ENG)
robot - robot
rugby - rugbi (ENG)
runda - ronde (ENG)
ruta - rute
rutina - rutin (ENG)
sac - saku (ENG)
salata - selada
salon - salon
sampon - sampo
sandala - sandal
sapun - sabun
sarong - sarung
satana - setan (ENG)
satelit - satelit (ENG)
sau - atau
scala (scara) - skala (ENG)
scor - skor
secretar - sekretaris
sectoral - sektoral
sector - sektor
selectie - seleksi
selectiv - selektif
semestru - semester (ENG)
semnificatie - signifikansi (ENG)
semnificativ - signifikan (ENG)
septembrie - September
serios - serius
servetel - serbet (ENG)
sesiune - sesi (ENG)
set - set
sex - seks
signal - sinyal
simbolic - simbolis (ENG)
simbol - simbol (ENG)
simpatic - simpatik (ENG)
simpatie - simpati (ENG)
simpatizant - simpatisan (ENG)
sirop - sirop
sistem - sistem
situatie - situasi
ski - ski
social - sosial
sofa - sofa
solidaritate - solidaritas (ENG)
soliditate - soliditas (ENG)
solid - solid (ENG)
solutie - solusi
sopir - sofer
sos - saus
spaghete - spageti
spa - spa (ENG)
specialist - spesialis
specializare - spesialisasi
special - spesial
specificare - spesifikasi
specific - spesifik
spirit - spirit (ENG)
spiritualitate - spiritualitas (ENG)
spiritual - spiritual (ENG)
sportivitate - sportivitas
sportiv - sportif
sport - sport
stabilitate - stabilitas (ENG)
stabil - stabil (ENG)
stadion - stadion
staff - staf
standard - standar
statie - stasiun
status - status
sticker - stiker (ENG)
strategic - strategis (ENG)
strategie - strategi (ENG)
stresor - stresor
stres - stres
structural - struktural (ENG)
structura - struktur (ENG)
studiu - studi
subdivizie - subdivisi (ENG)
subiectivitate - subjektivitas (ENG)
subiect - subjek (ENG)
subjectiv - subjektif (ENG)
subsector - subsektor
succes - sukses
supa - sup
supermarket - supermarket
super - super
suporter - suporter (ENG)
tableta - tablet
tanti - tante
tarif - tarif (ENG)
tata - bapa
taxi - taksi
teatru - teater
tehnic - teknik
tehnologie - teknologi
teleconferinta - telekonferensi (ENG)
telefon - telepon
televiziune - televisi
tema - tema
temperatura - temperatur (ENG)
tempo - tempo (IT)
tenis - tenis
terapie - terapi
terapist - terapis
terminal - terminal
teroare - teror (ENG)
terorism - terorisme (ENG)
terorist - teroris (ENG)
test - tes
text - teks
tip - tipe
toaleta - toilet
tona - ton
topic - topik
top - top
total - total
traditie - tradisi
traditional - tradisional
trei - tiga
trend - tren
trimestru - trimester (ENG)
trio - trio (ENG)
tsunami - tsunami
turism - turisme
turist - turis
tur - tur
umor - humor
umorist - humoris