Bahasa Indonesia is the national language and widely spoken across Bali. English is used in almost all tourist-facing businesses, so you will not get lost without Indonesian. But learning 20–30 key phrases produces an outsized return: locals visibly appreciate the effort, you will get better prices at markets, and you can navigate smaller warungs, village markets and rural temples where English is patchy. Bahasa Indonesia is also phonetically very consistent — what you see is almost exactly what you say.
Local tip
The single most useful phrase: 'Berapa harganya?' (How much is it?). Said with a friendly smile, it signals you know prices exist and you are not going to pay the first number you hear. At markets, it alone saves you money.
TL;DR
- Bahasa Indonesia is phonetic — vowels are pure, consonants mostly as in English.
- Selamat pagi / siang / sore / malam = Good morning / afternoon / afternoon/evening / evening.
- Terima kasih = Thank you. Sama-sama = You're welcome.
- Berapa harganya? = How much is it?
- Tolong = Please. Maaf = Sorry / Excuse me.
- Tidak mau, terima kasih = No thank you (polite refusal — very useful for touts).
Pronunciation Quick Guide
Bahasa Indonesia pronunciation is highly consistent:
| Letter/Pattern | Sounds Like | Example |
|---|---|---|
| a | "ah" (never "ay") | makan = MAH-kan (food) |
| e | "eh" or schwa "uh" | berapa = beh-RAH-pah |
| i | "ee" | ini = EE-nee (this) |
| o | "oh" | tolong = TOH-long (please/help) |
| u | "oo" | satu = SAH-too (one) |
| c | "ch" always | canggu = CHANG-goo |
| ng | as in "sing" | ngobrol = talking |
Greetings and Politeness
| Bahasa Indonesia | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Selamat pagi | seh-LAH-mat PAH-gee | Good morning (before ~10 AM) |
| Selamat siang | seh-LAH-mat see-YAHNG | Good midday (~10 AM–3 PM) |
| Selamat sore | seh-LAH-mat SOH-reh | Good afternoon (3–6 PM) |
| Selamat malam | seh-LAH-mat MAH-lam | Good evening (after dark) |
| Apa kabar? | AH-pah KAH-bar | How are you? |
| Kabar baik | KAH-bar BAH-ik | I'm fine (response) |
| Terima kasih | teh-REE-mah KAH-see | Thank you |
| Sama-sama | SAH-mah SAH-mah | You're welcome |
| Maaf | mah-AHF | Sorry / Excuse me |
| Permisi | pehr-MEE-see | Excuse me (getting past someone) |
Numbers
| Number | Indonesian | Number | Indonesian |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | satu | 10 | sepuluh |
| 2 | dua | 20 | dua puluh |
| 3 | tiga | 50 | lima puluh |
| 4 | empat | 100 | seratus |
| 5 | lima | 1,000 | seribu |
| 6 | enam | 10,000 | sepuluh ribu |
| 7 | tujuh | 100,000 | seratus ribu |
| 8 | delapan | 1,000,000 | satu juta |
| 9 | sembilan |
Shopping and Bargaining
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Berapa harganya? | How much is it? |
| Mahal sekali | Very expensive (used to start bargaining) |
| Bisa kurang? | Can you make it cheaper? |
| Saya mau beli | I want to buy |
| Tidak mau, terima kasih | No thank you (polite refusal) |
| Ada yang lain? | Do you have another one? |
| Terlalu besar / kecil | Too big / too small |
Food and Restaurants
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Nasi goreng | Fried rice (you probably already know this) |
| Tanpa daging | Without meat (vegetarian request) |
| Tidak pedas | Not spicy |
| Pedas sekali | Very spicy (FYI — Balinese food can be) |
| Air putih | Still/plain water |
| Tanpa es | Without ice |
| Minta bon / nota | Can I have the bill? |
| Enak sekali | Very delicious (instant warung hero) |
Emergency Phrases
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Tolong! | Help! |
| Saya sakit | I am sick |
| Panggil ambulans | Call an ambulance |
| Di mana rumah sakit? | Where is the hospital? |
| Saya kehilangan… | I have lost my… |
| Maling! | Thief! (shout loudly) |
| Hubungi polisi | Contact the police |
6 Frequently Asked Questions
- Is Balinese the same as Bahasa Indonesia?
- No. They are distinct languages. Bahasa Indonesia is the national language (spoken everywhere in Indonesia). Balinese is a separate local language spoken at home, in ceremonies and within the community. Tourists do not need Balinese — Bahasa Indonesia is the practical choice.
- Do people in Bali speak English?
- In South Bali tourist areas (Canggu, Seminyak, Kuta, Ubud) — yes, widely and often fluently. In northern Bali, remote inland villages and on the scooter roads between attractions, English drops off significantly. A few Bahasa phrases help a lot in these spots.
- How do I say "no thank you" without being rude to persistent touts?
- "Tidak mau, terima kasih" (not want, thank you) said firmly with a slight smile and a hand raise is the correct local-culture response. Ignore further follow-up and walk on. Making eye contact and responding more than once signals potential interest.
- Is there an app to help with Indonesian in offline areas?
- Google Translate has an offline Indonesian pack (download before you go). It works for text translation and a passable voice translation feature. For phonetic pronunciation, Duolingo covers Indonesian basics well for a few days of pre-trip practice.
- Are Indonesian and Malay the same language?
- They are very closely related — mutual intelligibility is high. If you speak Malay (from Malaysia or Singapore), you will be understood in Indonesia with minor vocabulary differences. Most grammar and core vocabulary are shared.
- What do locals say to each other as a casual greeting?
- "Halo!" and "Hai!" are ubiquitous casual greetings between friends, especially among younger Balinese. Formal "Selamat pagi" at a warung gets a warm reaction. "Sudah makan?" (Have you eaten yet?) is a common informal check-in — the Indonesian version of "How are you?"
