Useful Indonesian Words

Find below a few Indonesian expressions that go beyond the usual salutations and courtesy formulas, which will allow you to communicate with the Balinese.

Learn various ones: the Balinese particularly appreciate when tourists make the effort to learn a few words in their language!

Salutations and courtesy formulas

Hello / Good evening / Welcome
Good morning (morning greeting until 10 am) > Selamat pagi
Hello (mid-day greeting, during the day from 10 am to 3 pm) > Selamat siang
Good afternoon (afternoon greeting, from 3 pm until nightfall) > Selamat sore
Good evening > Selamat malam
Good night > Selamat tidur
Welcome > Selamat datang

Please > Tolong (For a request) - Mari, silakan (For and invitation)

The bill, please > Tolong nota

Thank you > Terima kasih
You’re welcome > Sama-sama

Excuse me > Permisi (For a request) - Maaf (To apologise)

Goodbye > Selamat jalan (If you are staying) - Selamat tinggal (If you are leaving)

Get to know each other / Exchange

I/My/Me > Saya
You/You (several people)/Your > Anda
He/She/Him/Her > Dia
We > Kita (includes the person you are speaking to), Kami (does not include the person you are speaking to)
They/Their/Them > Mereka

Nice to meet you > Senang berjumpa anda

How are you? > Apa kabar ?
Very well, thank you > Kabar baik

What is your name? > Siapa nama anda?
My name is _____. > Nama saya ____

How old are you? > Umur anda berapa ?
I am____. / I am_____ years old > Umur saya _____ tahun
For instance: I am 30 / I am 30 years old > Umur saya tiga puluh tahun.

Where are you going? > Mau ke mana?
To the hotel > Ke hotel
To the beach > Ke pantai

Where are you from? > Dari mana?

Yes / No > Ya / Tidak (also serves for the negation of verbs and adjectives)

Well, good > Bagus
You will hear this word everywhere. It expresses joy, satisfaction.

Happy celebrations! > Selamat pesta

Do you speak Indonesian? > Sudah bisa bahasa indonesia?
Only a little (bit) > Bisa sedikit saja

To solve a problem

I am sorry > Mohon maaf

Prohibited > Dilarang

Help! > Tolong!

I do not understand > Saya tidak mengerti

I am not interested > Saya tidak tertarik

Where is the toilet? > Di mana kamar kecil?

I need a doctor! > Saya perlu seorang dokter!

I am lost > Saya tersasar
Where am I? > Dimana Saya ?

Where is the _______street? > Dimana _______ jalan terletak?
Where is the _______hotel? > Dimana hotelnya _______?
Where is the _______ restaurant? > Dimana restorannya _______ ?

I have lost my bag > Saya kehilangan tas
I have lost my wallet > Saya kehilangan dompet
I have lost my passport > Saya kehilangan kertas

Days and months

Monday > Senin
Tuesday > Selasa
Wednesday > Rabu
Thursday > Kamis
Friday > Jum’at
Saturday > Sabtu
Sunday > Minggu

Today > Hari ini
Tomorrow > Besok
This week > Minggu ini, Pekan ini
Next week > Minggu depan, Pekan depan

January > Januari
February > Februari
March > Maret
April > April
May > Mei
June > Juni
July > Juli
August > Agustus
September > September
October > Oktober
November > November
December > Desember

Les nombres

• 1 > satu, 2 > dua, 3 > tiga, 4 > empat, 5 > lima, 6 > enam, 7 > tujuh, 8 > delapan, 9 > sembilan, 10 > sepuluh.
• 11 > sebelas, 12 > dua belas, 13 > tiga belas, 14 > empat belas...
• 20 > dua puluh, 30 > tiga puluh, 40 > empat puluh, 50 > limapuluh...
• 100 > seratus, 200 > dua ratus, 300 > tiga ratus, 400 > empat ratus, 500 > lima ratus...
• 1,000 > seribu, 2,000 > dua ribu, 3,000 > tiga ribu, 4,000 > empat ribu, 5,000 > lima ribu...
• 10,000 > sepuluh ribu, 20,000 > dua puluh ribu, 30,000 > tiga puluh ribu, 40,000 > empat puluh ribu, 50,000 > lima puluh ribu...
• 100,000 > seratus ribu, 200,000 > dua ratus ribu, 300,000 > tiga ratus ribu, 400,000 > empat ratus ribu, 500,000 > lima ratus ribu...
• 1,000,000 > sejuta, 2,000,000 > dua juta...

Less > kurang
More > tambah

For further information: Indonesian Phrasebook & Dictionary