English (International) 
Curious about the cecak you spot on Indonesian walls and ceilings? Learn about this common house lizard, its sounds, habits, and the different types you’ll find across Indonesia.
About the Topic
If you’ve spent even one night in Indonesia, chances are you’ve already met a cecak. This small house lizard is one of the most familiar creatures in Indonesian homes, often spotted darting across ceilings or clinging to walls near a lamp. Many Indonesians grow up so used to the cecak that they barely notice it anymore, but for foreign learners, this little reptile is actually a great entry point into everyday Indonesian vocabulary and culture. Across Indonesia, geckos are commonly seen as part of daily life, with their presence inside a home often considered a normal, even welcome thing. In this lesson, you’ll read a short text about the cecak, learn key vocabulary, and pick up some cultural context, while practicing your pronunciation with the audio below.
Reading Text
🔊 Listen to the audio below to learn the correct pronunciation:
Pernahkah kamu melihat binatang bernama cecak? Apakah di negaramu ada binatang itu? Cecak adalah hewan reptil. Ciri-cirinya yaitu memiliki ekor, berkaki empat, bermata dua, berlidah panjang, dan panjang badannya kira-kira 10 cm. Cecak ada yang berwarna putih, abu-abu, dan hitam. Cecak merupakan binatang merayap. Dia biasa hidup di pohon dan di rumah, seperti di langit-langit rumah dan di dekat lampu. Makanan cecak adalah binatang kecil, seperti nyamuk dan semut. Suara cecak berbunyi “cek, cek, cek, cek”. Kalau ada musuh menyerang, ia sengaja memutuskan ekornya, kemudian merayap dengan kencang. Ekor cecak yang putus dapat tumbuh lagi.
Terdapat banyak jenis cecak. Pertama, cecak tembok. Cecak jenis ini sering tinggal di tembok-tembok rumah dan sela-sela atap. Ia bertubuh pipih dan berekor lebar. Kedua, cecak kayu. Cecak jenis ini lebih suka tinggal di pohon-pohon di halaman rumah, atau di bagian rumah yang berkayu seperti di atap dan terkadang bersama cecak tembok di dinding luar dekat lampu. Cecak kayu sering kalah bersaing dengan cecak tembok saat mencari makan. Bentuk tubuhnya lebih kurus, ekornya bulat, dengan enam deret tonjolan kulit berupa duri yang panjang dari pangkal ke ujung ekor. Ketiga, cecak gula. Cecak jenis ini kerap ditemui di sekitar dapur, kamar mandi, dan lemari makan. Cecak gula mencari butir-butir nasi atau gula yang menjadi favoritnya. Cecak ini sering ditemukan tenggelam di gelas kopi. Cecak ini bertubuh lebih kecil dengan kepala bulat dan warna kulit transparan serupa daging.
Important Vocabulary
- merayap – to crawl
Example: Cecak itu merayap di dinding. — The gecko crawls on the wall. - ekor – tail
Example: Ekor cecak bisa putus dan tumbuh lagi. — A gecko’s tail can break off and grow back. - menyerang – to attack
Example: Kucing menyerang cecak di dapur. — The cat attacked the gecko in the kitchen. - bersaing – to compete
Example: Cecak kayu sering bersaing dengan cecak tembok. — Wood geckos often compete with wall geckos. - tonjolan – bump / protrusion
Example: Ekornya memiliki tonjolan kulit seperti duri. — Its tail has skin bumps like thorns. - favorit – favorite
Example: Gula adalah makanan favorit cecak gula. — Sugar is the sugar gecko’s favorite food. - transparan – transparent
Example: Warna kulitnya transparan seperti daging. — Its skin color is transparent like flesh.
Cultural Notes
The cecak you’ll read about here (sometimes spelled cicak in other regions) is part of everyday life across Indonesia, not just background scenery. In Javanese folk belief, a cicak falling onto someone is even read as a small omen, with the meaning depending on which part of the body it lands on. Beyond superstition, the gecko also earns its keep: since it feeds on mosquitoes and other small insects, many households see it as a quiet, natural form of pest control rather than something to be afraid of. So if you hear that “cek, cek, cek” sound at night during your stay in Indonesia, you’ll now know exactly what’s making it, and why locals rarely think twice about it.
Ready to Learn More?
Learning about small everyday creatures like the cecak is a fun way to build your Indonesian vocabulary while picking up cultural context you won’t find in a textbook. Want more reading practice like this, complete with audio pronunciation guides? Basantara offers one-on-one classes with native Indonesian instructors to help you read, listen, and speak with confidence. Reach out via WhatsApp at +62 852 1396 8601 or visit basantara.net to get started.
