The essential Indonesian words and phrases every traveler should know before visiting Bali: greetings, thank you, numbers and prices, ordering food, directions, bargaining and help in an emergency. With pronunciation, flip cards and a free printable PDF.
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5 things that make it easy
Indonesian is one of the friendliest languages to pick up. These five rules cover most of it.
01
It is written as it sounds
Bahasa Indonesia uses the Latin alphabet and almost every letter is pronounced the same way every time. If you can read it, you can say it.
02
C sounds like ch
Cantik (beautiful) is said chahn-teek, and kecil (small) is keh-cheel. Roll your r lightly, and say e softly, like the a in about.
03
No verb tenses
Saya makan can mean I eat, I ate or I will eat. Add sudah (already) or nanti (later) when you need to be clear.
04
Plurals by doubling
Anak is child, anak-anak is children. Often the number alone is enough: dua kopi, two coffees.
05
Be polite with Pak and Bu
Add Pak (sir) or Bu (madam) to a thank you or a question, as in terima kasih, Bu. It is warm and respectful.
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All 71 words & phrases on printable cards
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Good to know
Bahasa Indonesia questions
Do people in Bali speak English?
Yes. In tourist areas most people in hotels, restaurants and shops speak good English. A few words of Bahasa Indonesia are still appreciated everywhere and help a lot in villages and markets.
Is Balinese the same as Indonesian?
No. Balinese (Basa Bali) is a separate language with its own script and levels of politeness, used at home and in ceremonies. Bahasa Indonesia is the national language that everyone in Bali speaks.
How do you say thank you in Bali?
Terima kasih in Indonesian, or suksma in Balinese. The reply to terima kasih is sama-sama, you're welcome.
Is Bahasa Indonesia hard to learn?
It is one of the easier languages for English speakers: Latin alphabet, regular pronunciation, no verb tenses and no gendered nouns. A few dozen words get you through most travel situations.