Should You be Offended If An Indonesian Calls You A ‘Bule’?
Or are foreigners getting all bent about nothing?
White expats and travellers in Indonesia will almost certainly hear themselves referred to as a bule at some point during their time here. Locals use the word to describe white foreigners. Labelling someone based on their skin colour can be questionable, especially in today’s world. Whether it is considered offensive here though is still something of a gray area.
What does ‘bule’ mean?
Gringo. Malai. Gaijin. Farang. Haole. Different cultures around the world have their own unique words for a foreigner. In Indonesia, white European-looking people are referred to as ‘bules’. The word originates from sometime before the 19th century when people preferred to own bulei (white) buffalo to hitam (black) buffalo. A 1948 Javanese dictionary notes boelé as a suffix to the word wong, or ‘person’. Its meaning according to a modern dictionary is ‘albino’. Nowadays it’s a term used generally to describe Caucasian foreigners. Literally ‘white person’. Or ‘whitey’.
Is it an offensive term?
Certainly, there are some expats or travellers who have been offended by the word. Most Indonesians however will insist that it’s not a racist word and that it…
