Essential Indonesian Travel Phrases For Your Trip To Bali And Beyond
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Knowing a few basic Indonesian phrases will completely transform your trip to Bali or anywhere else in Indonesia.
Locals always appreciate it when tourists make an effort to speak their language.
Bahasa Indonesia is actually one of the most accessible languages for English speakers to pick up quickly.
The alphabet is exactly the same as ours and the pronunciation is very straightforward.
This guide will give you the most practical travel phrases you need to navigate the country with confidence.
Table of Contents:
Essential greetings in Indonesian
Saying hello and thank you are the most important things you can learn before your trip.
Indonesians are incredibly friendly and welcoming people.
A simple greeting in their native language will almost always be met with a massive smile.
Here are the basic greetings you’ll use every single day.
| English | Indonesian |
|---|---|
| Hello | Halo |
| Good morning | Selamat pagi |
| Good afternoon | Selamat siang |
| Good evening | Selamat malam |
| Thank you | Terima kasih |
| You’re welcome | Sama-sama |
In Bali specifically, you might also hear the traditional Balinese greeting Om Swastiastu, but Halo or Selamat pagi work perfectly fine everywhere.
Selamat pagi! Apa kabar?
Baik, terima kasih.
Getting around and asking for directions
You’ll likely use ride-hailing apps like Gojek or Grab to get around cities and tourist areas.
Sometimes the drivers need to call or text you to confirm your exact location.
Knowing how to tell them where you are or where you want to go is extremely helpful.
| English | Indonesian |
|---|---|
| I want to go to… | Saya mau ke… |
| Where is the bathroom? | Di mana kamar mandi? |
| Turn left | Belok kiri |
| Turn right | Belok kanan |
| Stop here | Berhenti di sini |
If you’re walking around exploring, you might need to ask locals for help finding a specific place.
Permisi, di mana pantai?
Lurus saja, lalu belok kanan.
Ordering food and drinks
Eating at local food stalls known as warungs is a major highlight of visiting Indonesia.
This is where you’ll find the most authentic and delicious local dishes.
Indonesian food can often be very spicy, so it pays to know how to adjust your order.
| English | Indonesian |
|---|---|
| I would like to order | Saya mau pesan |
| Delicious | Enak |
| Very spicy | Sangat pedas |
| Not spicy | Tidak pedas |
| The bill, please | Minta bon |
Don’t be afraid to compliment the chef or the server if you enjoyed your meal.
Saying the food is delicious goes a long way toward building rapport.
Saya mau pesan nasi goreng, tidak pedas.
Baik, tolong tunggu sebentar.
Shopping and bargaining
Bargaining is a very normal part of shopping at traditional markets in Indonesia.
Vendors will often start with a higher price when they see a tourist walking up to their stall.
If you try speaking a little Indonesian, you’ll usually get a much better deal.
| English | Indonesian |
|---|---|
| How much is this? | Berapa harganya? |
| Too expensive | Terlalu mahal |
| Can you lower the price? | Bisa kurang? |
| I want to buy this | Saya mau beli ini |
| No, thank you | Tidak, terima kasih |
Always remember to smile and keep the negotiation friendly and respectful.
Berapa harga kemeja ini?
Seratus ribu rupiah.
Terlalu mahal! Bisa kurang?
Best resources to learn Indonesian travel phrases
If you want to feel totally prepared for your trip, I highly recommend studying a bit more before you fly.
Taking a structured approach will help you remember the vocabulary much faster.
There are several great tools available for beginners who want to learn quickly.
| Resource | Best for |
|---|---|
| Talk In Indonesian | Complete conversational fluency |
| Pimsleur | Audio-only learning |
| Duolingo | Gamified vocabulary practice |
1. Talk In Indonesian
My top recommendation is our very own platform, Talk In Indonesian.
We built this specifically to teach you exactly how locals actually speak in everyday situations.
You’ll learn practical travel phrases without wasting time on useless textbook grammar.
2. Pimsleur
Pimsleur is a solid option if you just want to listen to audio lessons while driving or walking.
It focuses heavily on spoken repetition to burn the correct pronunciation into your memory.
3. Duolingo
Duolingo is fine for a free way to build up some basic vocabulary.
It won’t make you fluent, but it’s a fun way to familiarize yourself with basic Indonesian words before your flight.
