Hotels, Resorts, Villas & Holiday Rentals
Knowing a few words in Bahasa can “change” your Bali Trip
Bahasa Indonesia, Bali’s official Language is one of the easiest languages to learn
And if you manage to remember some words you will quickly see how this will open hearts and doors when traveling. The Indonesian language is not that difficult to learn, at least the informal language. Indonesian is based on Malay. Even though it is the country’s official language, for the majority of Indonesians Bahasa Indonesia is their 2nd language. Bali has it’s Bahasa Bali (Balinese) which is still spoken among the Balinese. There are so many other languages across the Indonesian archipelago, that Bahasa Indonesia functions as lingua franca.
Most Balinese speak a fair level of English. Yet, It makes such a huge difference, when you know a few words in “Bahasa”. It’s fun, and it will get you closer to the Balinese who deeply appreciate any effort from foreigners who speak a few words. Even if it is a simple “Apa Kabar” – How are you.
Most Important words in Bahasa – The very basics
English |
Bahasa |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yes | Ya | ||||
| No (or not) | Tidak | ||||
| Maybe | Mungkin | ||||
| Sorry | Ma’af | ||||
| Hello | Helo | ||||
| I / me | Saya (formal) or aku (informal) | ||||
| There is, have, be, exists | ada | ||||
| Does not exist, have not, is not | Tidak ada | ||||
| You | Anda (formal) kamu (informal) | ||||
| Goodbye (when you leave) | Selamat tinggal | ||||
| Goodbye (when you stay) | Selamat jalan | ||||
| Good morning (until 11am) | Selamat pagi | ||||
| Good afternoon (until 3pm) | Selamat siang | ||||
| Good afternoon (until 6pm) | Selamat sore | ||||
| Good night (at night after 6pm) | Selamat malam | ||||
| Sleep well | Selamat tidur | ||||
| How are you? | Apa kabar? | ||||
| I am fine, and you? | Kabar baik, Anda bagaimana? | ||||
| Please | Silakan | ||||
| Thank you | Terima kasih | ||||
| You’re welcome | Sama sama | ||||
| No worries/never mind | Tidak apa apa | ||||
| — | |||||
| Mr | Bapak (or Pak) | ||||
| Ms/Mrs | Ibu | ||||
| Miss | Nona | ||||
| What is your name? | Siapa nama Anda? (Formal) | ||||
| Siapa nama mu? (Informal) | |||||
| My name is… | Nama saya… | ||||
| Do you speak English? | Bisa bicara bahasa Inggris? | ||||
| I don’t understand | Saya tidak mengerti | ||||
| I am hungry | Saya lapar | ||||
| I am thirsty | Saya haus |
Keywords for Questions
| Where? | Di mana? | ||||
| When? | Kapan? | ||||
| Who? | Siapa? | ||||
| Why? | Kenapa? | ||||
| What? | Apa? | ||||
| How many? | Berapa? |
Common signs
| Open | Buka | ||||
| Closed | Tutup | ||||
| Exit | Keluar | ||||
| Entrance | Masuk | ||||
| Prohibited | Dilarang | ||||
| No smoking | Dilarang rokok | ||||
| Toilets | Kamar kecil | ||||
| Men | Laki or Pria | ||||
| Women | Wanita or Perempuan |
In case of emergency
| Help | Tolong | ||||
| I am ill | Saya sakit | ||||
| Call a doctor | Panggil dokter | ||||
| Call an ambulance | Panggil ambulans | ||||
| Where is the nearest hospital? | Dimana Rumah Sakit yang paling dekat? | ||||
| I am allergic to… | Saya punya allergi.. | ||||
| It hurts here | Sakit disini | ||||
| There has been an accident | Ada kecelakaan | ||||
| May I use your phone? | Boleh pinjam telpon? | ||||
| Call the police | Panggil Polisi |
Traveling, Eating and Drinking
| Room | Kamar | ||||
| Taxi | Taksi | ||||
| Transportation | Transpor | ||||
| Money | Uang | ||||
| How much does it cost | Berapa Harga | ||||
| Jalan | Street | ||||
| Bus | Bis | ||||
| Motor Bike, Scooter | Sepeda Motor | ||||
| rent | sea | ||||
| buy | beli | ||||
| Breakfast | sarapan / makan pagi | ||||
| Lunch | makan siang | ||||
| Dinner | makan malam | ||||
| Enjoy your meal | Selamat makan | ||||
| That was delicious | Enak sekali | ||||
| Can I have the bill? | Boleh minta bill? | ||||
| — | |||||
| Fork | garpu | ||||
| Spoon | sendok | ||||
| Knife | pisau | ||||
| Chopstick | sumpit | ||||
| Cup | cangkir | ||||
| Plate | piring | ||||
| Glass | gelas | ||||
| — | |||||
| Salt | garam | ||||
| Pepper | lada | ||||
| Sugar | gula | ||||
| Milk | susu | ||||
| Hot | panas | ||||
| Cold | dingin | ||||
| Spicy | pedas | ||||
| Tea | teh | ||||
| Mineral water | air putih | ||||
| air | water | ||||
| Coffee | kopi | ||||
| Ice cubes | es batu | ||||
| Fruit | buah | ||||
| Bread | roti | ||||
| Butter | mentega | ||||
| Cheese | keju | ||||
| Rice | nasi | ||||
| Vegetables | sayur | ||||
| Fish | ikan | ||||
| Shrimp | udang | ||||
| Chicken | ayam | ||||
| Egg | telor | ||||
| Beef | sapi | ||||
| Pork | babi |
Numbers
The number system is quite straight forward and easy to learn.
1AUD is roughly IDR 10,000 which maks it easy to calculate prices.
1 USD is at the value of roughly IDR 13,000 which makes it a bit more complicated to deal with prices.
| 1 | satu | ||||
| 2 | dua | ||||
| 3 | tiga | ||||
| 4 | empat | ||||
| 5 | lima | ||||
| 6 | enam | ||||
| 7 | tujuh | ||||
| 8 | delapan | ||||
| 9 | sembilan | ||||
| 10 | Sepuluh (puluh) | ||||
| — | |||||
| 11 | Sebelas | ||||
| 12 | Duabelas | ||||
| 13 | Tigabelas | ||||
| 14 | Empatbelas | ||||
| 15 | limabelas | ||||
| 16 | enambelas | ||||
| 17 | tujuhbelas | ||||
| 18 | delapanbelas | ||||
| 19 | sembilanbelas | ||||
| 20 | duapuluh | ||||
| — | |||||
| 21 | duapuluh satu | ||||
| 22 | duapulu dua | ||||
| … | |||||
| 30 | tigapuluh | ||||
| 31 | sigapuluh satu | ||||
| … | |||||
| 40 | empatpuluh | ||||
| 50 | limapuluh | ||||
| … | |||||
| 99 | sembilanpuluh sembilan | ||||
| 100 | seratus (..ratus) | ||||
| — | |||||
| 200 | duaratus | ||||
| 230 | duaratus tigapuluh | ||||
| … | |||||
| 900 | sembilanratus | ||||
| 1000 | seribu Ribu (Ribu / rb.) | ||||
| … | |||||
| 1,000,000 | sejuta (satu juta, juta, jta.) | ||||
| 2,000,000 | duajuta | ||||
| 1,000,000,000 | Satu Miliar | ||||
| — | |||||
| 3,546,234 / Three million, five hundred forty six thousand, two hundred and thirty four | Tiga Jutah, Lima Ratus Empat Puluh Enam Ribuh, Dua Ratus Tiga Puluh Empat |
Conversation
| Can I have … | Boleh minta … | ||||
| I like… | Saya suka… | ||||
| I do not like… | Saya tidak suka… | ||||
| I want… | Saya mau… | ||||
| I do not want… | Saya tidak mau | ||||
| Without… | Tanpa… | ||||
| I need… | Saya perlu… | ||||
| I am looking for… | Saya cari… | ||||
| May I… | Boleh saya… | ||||
| I want to go to … | Saya mau ke… |
Directions
| Left | Kiri | ||||
| Right | Kanan | ||||
| Straight | Lurus | ||||
| Stop here | Stop disini | ||||
| Near | Dekat | ||||
| Far | Jauh | ||||
| Next to, beside (location) | Sebelah | ||||
| U-turn | Puter balik | ||||
| Motorbike | Sepeda motor | ||||
| Petrol station | Pompa bensin |
