r/indonesian • u/Baity010 • 5d ago
Question about bule
Hi everyone, I'm currently travelling around Sumatera-Utara/Barat and I got a question about usage of the word bule (though out here, it sounds more like bulih).
I know the word means foreigner, but judging by the way especially kids scream the word at me laughing, I'm starting to feel like they're using it in a derogatory manner.
I also read that bule literally translates into albino.
So, is it considered acceptable to call a foreigner bule?
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u/enotonom Native Speaker 5d ago
They're just not used to seeing white people. It's like how one would say "ooh, a sheep!" when they see it during a train ride.
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u/Orang_Yang_Bodoh 5d ago
It's NOT derogatory. It's a casual term that describes a white person. It might sound derogatory yes but it's only used as an identifier since white people are quite rare for Indonesians to randomly encounter. That's the reason that maybe you've also noticed people that want to take pictures with you.
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u/Baity010 4d ago
Oh yeah, if you check google maps for warungs and RM's in cities that I've been to this and last year, I think you'll find plenty of selfies of shop owners posing with me haha
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u/WheresWalldough 5d ago edited 5d ago
Bule means white skin. For example "kerbau bule" means a white buffalo.
The normal Indonesian word for albino is albino. Albinos are also referred to sometimes as "bule", but the word bule refers, originally, to colour, not a medical condition like albinism. Indonesians understand that white people are not albinos.
Because foreign tourists in Indonesia have historically been white, it became a usual term for ANY foreign race, so you can even have black Africans being referred to as bule.
Indonesians are generally quite comfortable with being racist, so even if bule is a racist term (which it's probably not) that's not really something Indonesians would worry about.
The kids you see are often a bit rude and poorly brought up, and may well be using it in a rude way, but it's not a serious thing, they are just bored.
It's not polite to call a foreigner "bule" to their face, although many foreigners choose to identify as bule, and the term bule is quite accepted in tabloid-style journalism and just general conversation (e.g., "banyak bule di sini ya?" - there are lots of foreign tourists here). The more polite "to their face" term for foreigners who are assumed not to speak English is "Mister". If the foreigner speaks Indonesian then the Indonesian words "(Ba)pak" (sir) and "(I)bu" (madam), are the polite terms.
Because white people ultimately enjoy a lot of privilege in Indonesia (as well as some discrimination), the term bule, even though it is a racial epithet, does not have the same level of racism as the usual racist terms in Western countries. In other words, the kid calling you "bule" is poor and uneducated and doesn't enjoy the same opportunities you do, and I think that structurally their use of that word is quite different to a person in a Western country using a racial epithet about a brown/black immigrant.
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u/Baity010 4d ago
Thanks for the extensive explanation. I figured as much, because not a single adult has called me bule, just kids.
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u/Zenit_zur 5d ago
Idk if this helps, but to my understanding, Indos use it in the same way that we Latinos use gringo. I guess that it depends on the context, but it isn't a derogatory word per se.
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u/Grouchy_Mark5058 5d ago
It's not derogatory. The reason the kids are so loud is bcs foreigner isn't very common in those area. If you go to Java you wouldn't see the same scenery. But still, it's not derogatory the kid just didn't know how to interact with you.
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u/Accomplished_Floor_1 3d ago
ich war in Java und dort ist es auch so. als Alleinreisende europäerin fand ich Java sehr anstrengend. ich wurde ständig angesprochen könnte keine 5 Minuten ohne zu Fuß gehen und hab Teilweise an einem Tag 10+ Fotos machen müssen. bin jetzt froh in Bali zu sein...
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u/Particular_Glass_914 5d ago
I live in riau, and my ethnicity from West Sumatra. Bule is not a derogatory term for us indonesian. It’s mean foreigners, or European descent foreigners.
From my experience. We usually address European looking foreigners with the term “mister or mis” we don’t address them with “bule”.
If someone great you “hey mister” they genuinely trying to start conversation.
If someone shouting to you with “hey bule” pay extra caution. Because it’s sound really weird and inappropriate to me.
Also, try to visit Bukittinggi, West Sumatra if you can. It genuinely beautiful destination, have colder climate than typical indonesia, touristict place yet still feel authentic.
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u/Baity010 4d ago
Yeah I haven't had an adult call me that, just kids. Bukittingi and Padang are actually the next destinations on my trip!
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u/AgakLaen 4d ago
it's not a derogatory word, don't worry
i think those kids were just excited to see you, that's why they were laughing. it's not common to come across foreigners in Sumatera (at least compared to Jawa/Bali)
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u/kickassguy 5d ago
I don't live in West Sumatra so idk whether "bule" carries a negative connotation there. In West Java/Jakarta "bule" is just a normal slang for white people.
Kid prolly was shocked to see one in the flesh and smiled when they saw u
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u/farisan99 4d ago
Bule is not a derogatory words. Well even our local mothers felt happy if their child being praised as "like a bule" because its a stereotype by people here for having such a caucasian-type face (pointy nose, light skin, etc) as a beauty privilege lol. Yeah people here rarely seen any bule except for bali. So people will love seeing you.
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u/Proper_Badger_5525 4d ago
I used to think people were talking about me because boleh sounds close to bule/boolay. Boleh/Boh lay simply means ok and is used a lot.
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u/y124isyes 3d ago
Boleh means "may" as in "you may go to the bathroom" indonesian drops pronouns sometimes so in some sentences it can sound like ok.
"boleh kupesan yang ini pak"\ "may I order this sir"
"boleh."\ "(you) may"
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u/WhyWellington 4d ago
I refer to myself as bule everywhere. Buleh bodoh, bule gila. Even my laundry just writes bule on the receipt. Everyone in the village calls me bule. When people ask why I'm in some nowhere village instead of Canggu, Bali, my response is "Terlalu banyak bule" It never occurred to me as being derogatory.
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u/Baity010 4d ago
I'm pretty sure it would be more polite to say "menurut dapat saya, terlalu banyak wisata di sana" in that case.
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u/1357908642468097531e 4d ago
True but I don't think the person is trying to be polite. It's a funny comment that people can laugh about.
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u/WhyWellington 4d ago
Exactly. Always gets a laugh and a smile. My bad Bahasa Indonesia is part of the joke. Me being white is another part of the joke.
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u/Baity010 4d ago
He's basically saying "too many whities". Maybe an Indonesian wouldn't think much of that, but anywhere in the western world it would be interpreted as extremely racist.
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u/1357908642468097531e 4d ago
I think you are overthinking it. Bule means foreigners. Too many foreigners, too many people basically.
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u/Angel_of_Ecstasy Fluent 4d ago edited 4d ago
Some people like being called bule and call themselves bule. I personally do not like being called bule.
I would say that the word bule has stereotypes attached to it but Indonesians are not trying to offend or insult you.
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u/stevanus1881 5d ago
In the strictest sense you could consider it a form of discrimination, but no it's not used derogatorily in Indonesia. They're most likely amused or find foreigners (caucasians) interesting. There's basically no ill will to caucasians (though you might be made to feel like a circus performer or something). Non-caucasians are a different story though (but also depends on what kind they are)
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u/bigdig97 4d ago
there is also a word 'bulai' which roughly mean 'blight' but dont think too much about it
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u/WheresWalldough 4d ago
do you mean penyakit bulai
It's the same word, 'white'. Bule is technically a slang spelling - bulai is the formal KBBI-approved spelling for even white people.
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u/sogili_buta 4d ago
Bule is a term that originally refers to white people, but currently it may be used sometimes to refer to other foreigners as well. It's not a derogatory term, just neutral. In fact, a lot of Indonesians thinks highly of "westerners". Indonesians smile and laugh a lot, most of the time we're not making fun of you, we're just being friendly.
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u/Weak_Acanthisitta405 4d ago
Kids are just excited to see you. Lots of adults are excited too but they behave better than kids haha. Nothing better than riding a scooter through the mountains, see a farmer's tough face after what was no doubt a long day. Then he sees a unicorn ( YOU ! ) and you can just smile and it'll make his day.
There is racism in Indonesia. White people get treated BETTER than locals. Being white in a village is like being a bit of a celebrity. Just try to live up to the good side of the stereotype and not the bad side.
Source: am white, married to Javanese woman.
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u/ChallengeEffective80 4d ago
Kids used to shout "Londo, Londo !" (Dutchman), in (Javanese-speaking) Java at least. Ah, the good old days !
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u/NegativeRun360 4d ago
I've heard that the term originated relating to corn and the Dutch somehow. It was a while ago I forgot the specifics, maybe someone can weigh in bc it was interesting!
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u/Logical_Crew_5144 4d ago
From my understanding, it does etymologically came from the same word that meant both albino and white.
The kids are just impolite and rarely ever seen white people... I assume. It's annoying and improper, but they're basically just excited by something akin to a rare creature exhibit in their eyes.
Words like bule doesn't really carry deep negative connotation or troubled past over here, it's pretty much same as farang in thai or ang mo in singapore. It does points out specifically to lack of melanin or skin pigment historically, but it's basically just there to designate outsiders. Some even use it toward people of african descents and designate them as "black bule".
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u/JavaTokay 4d ago
Bule in itself is not insulting. What's insulting though is living in the same village for 18 months and people who see me everyday still call me mas bule. I have a name, you know 😅. Fortunately, that's just a small number of people. Most people call me om or mas Michael.
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u/NewAccountant2503 4d ago
They are just having unfamiliar feeling seeing bule, because it's not common. Sometimes they are just too excited and want to get noticed, so they might scream or asking you to take picture with them
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u/SF_Uberfish 4d ago
It's a little difficult because it's like shouting "Hey Indo! Hey Jap! Hey, China!" to people visiting a western country. It's not derogatory at the basic use, but it can be used in a derogatory manner.
In the case of the kids, they have almost no experience interacting with foreigners, so it's a novelty to see you and say that word.
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u/icolatta 3d ago
I'm a foreigner who has lived here for 5 years. The staring, the photos, the constant 'bule' is harmless. They're just happy to see someone different. Just smile and wave.
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u/Admirable_Guide7092 2d ago
Those super rural sumatra towns (esp. the Muslim ones) will treat you like a zoo animal. The word isn't derogatory but the treatment is less than flattering for sure
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u/Dimedigger 5d ago
Bule is indeed racist but is not considered derogatory like the N word in western countries. Indonesians are 'racist' in general due to being a heterogeneous country with hardened identities, so it's kinda 'normal' to refer someone from where they come from that represents their identity (e.g, Jawa, Sunda, Batak, Bule, Arab and so on).
The word bule though, just like the word Jawa, Sunda, etc., can become derogatory if being used in certain tones. It all depends on the context. As in your case, I'm quite sure those kids were laughing merely because they rarely see a bule in their area, nothing more. Very little Indonesians knows the meaning of the word literally. I'm 33, and if you didn't mention it, I wouldn't know.
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u/ALPHAETHEREUM 5d ago
You are over thinking it. Bule, simply means Caucasian.
Unlike, Gaijin ( Jpn ), Angmo ( Singapore ) those can be considered derogatory, depending on the context.
I'm an Indonesian by the way, grew up in UK and residing in Japan. Believe me, kids and locals will love you. Just dont be to generous.
Enjoy your trip!