Learning these key phrases will add something to your Bali experience and make it easier to connect with locals and fully immerse yourself in the island’s rich culture as you explore some stunning destinations on your itinerary.
Moving to or visiting a place where you don’t speak the language can be challenging. While English is widely spoken in Bali, learning some basic yet useful Indonesian phrases can significantly enhance your experience. Whether you’re exploring local markets, attending cultural ceremonies, or making Bali your home base, speaking the local language breaks barriers and helps you connect on a deeper level.
Master these essential Indonesian phrases—with pronunciation tips—to enjoy a more authentic and meaningful Bali experience, and discover authentic encounters you might otherwise miss!
What language is spoken in Bali?
Keep in mind that Balinese and Indonesian (Bahasa) are two distinct languages, but most people in Bali understand both. In this guide, we’ll focus on essential phrases and pronunciations in Indonesian/Bahasa to help you navigate everyday interactions more effectively during your stay in Bali.
The list of useful Indonesian phrases includes:
Greetings
Hello – Halo (Ha-loh)
Goodbye – Selamat tinggal (se-lah-mutt teen-gal)
Good morning, afternoon, evening – Selamat pagi, siang, sore (se-lah-mutt pa-gee, see-yang, so-reh)
My name is – Nama saya (nah-ma sai-ya)
I am from – Berasal dari (bur-ah-sahl dar-ee)
Good manners
Balinese people are very polite, make sure to use these phrases to ensure you are being respectful.
Thank you – Terima Kasih (te-ree-ma ka-seeh)
Excuse me – Permisi (per-mee-see)
Nice to meet you – Salam kenal (saa-laam ke-nal)
How are you? – Apa kabar? (ah-pah ka-bar)
Good – Baik (bay-eek)
Bad – Tidak baik (tee-dak bay-eek)
Please help – Mohon tolong (mo-hon toh-long)
Yes – Ya (ya)
No – Tidak (tee-dak)
Sorry – Maaf (mah-af)
*Getting someone’s attention* – Please note that this depends on the age/status of the person you are referring to:
Someone older than you who is still young – ka (kah)
Someone who is younger than you and is very young – Ade (ah-deh)
Adult woman – Ibu (ee-buh)
Adult man – Bapak/Pak (bah-pak)
Directions
Left – Kiri (kee-ree)
Right – Kanan (kaa-naan)
Forward – Maju (mah-joo)
Backward – Belakang (bel-ah-kang)
Stop – Berhenti (ber-hun-tee)
Where? – Di mana (dee mana)
Complaints
Traffic! – Machet! (mah-chet)
I do not want – Saya tiddak mau (sa-yah tee-dak mah-oo)
Not too spicy – Jangan terlalu pedas (jaa-ngan ter-laa-luw pe-dash)
Haggling
One thing to note when shopping is that some places in Bali have two prices, one for locals and one for foreigners.
Try to sway them by confidently using Bahasa Indonesian and bag yourself a better price – even if you butcher the pronunciation they will appreciate the effort!
How much? – Berapa? (ber-ra-pa)
Expensive! – Mahal! (mah-hahl)
Too much – Terlalu mahal (ter-lah-loo ma-hal)
Is there a discount? – Ada diskon? (Ah-daa disk-on)
Basic food items
Water – Air (eye-er)
Chicken – Ayam (eye-yum)
I am vegetarian/vegan – Saya vegetarian/vegan (sah-yah veh-geh-tah-ree-ahn / veh-gan)
Other essentials you might need
Here are some random but essential Indonesian expressions that may come in handy during your stay.
Can you speak English? – Bisa berbicara Bahasa Inggris? (bee-sah bur-bee-chara ba-hasa ing-riss)
Can I top-up data? – Bisa top-up pulsa? (bee-sah top-up pool-sah)
Can I get a helmet please – Mohon minta helem (moh-hon meen-ta hell-um)
Can I have the bill – Minta bon (meen-tah bon)
Where is the bathroom? – Di mana kamar kecil? (dee mana ka-mar keh-chil)
I have an allergy – Saya memiliki alergi (sah-yah meh-mee-lee-kee al-er-gee)
I need medical help – Saya butuh bantuan medis (sah-ya boo-tooh bahn-too-ahn meh-dis)
Numbers
One – Satu (sah-too)
Two – Dua (doo-ah)
Three – Tiga (ti-gah)
Four – Empat (em-putt)
Five – Lima (lee-ma)
Six – Enam (e-num)
Seven – Tujuh (too-joo)
Eight – Delapan (de-lah-pahn)
Nine – Sembilan (sem-bi-lahn)
Ten – Sepuluh (se-poo-loo)
Hundred – Ratus (rah-toos)
Thousand – Ribu (ree-boo)
Excluding one hundred and one thousand, when using hundred and thousand, simply pick a number followed by ratus or ribu. For example, two hundred is dua ratus and two thousand is dua ribu.
For one hundred and one thousand it is shortened to, seratus (one hundred) and seribu (one thousand).
Indonesian phrases for your visit to Bali
For short phrases like di mana (where), you can often substitute an English word for what you’re describing, and locals will easily understand your meaning.
Many Indonesian words are similar to English, or they use English terms altogether—like toilet or restaurant.
Bahasa Indonesia is one of the easiest languages to learn for beginners, and locals will truly appreciate your efforts to speak it. Learning a few basic Indonesian phrases is a great way to build connections and start conversations, enriching your travel experience in Bali.
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