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Indonesia ยท Indonesian Travel Phrases

The most useful local expressions, ordered by importance. Pronunciations are approximate.

Greetings

  1. 1
    Selamat pagi
    Good morning “seh-lah-mat pah-gee”
  2. 2
    Terima kasih
    Thank you “teh-ree-mah kah-seeh”
  3. 3
    Permisi
    Excuse me (to get attention or pass by) “per-mee-see”
  4. 4
    Maaf
    Sorry “mah-af”
  5. 5
    Sama-sama
    You're welcome “sah-mah sah-mah”
  6. 6
    Tidak apa-apa
    It's okay / No problem “tee-dak ah-pah ah-pah”
Local etiquette
  • Indonesia is the world's largest Muslim-majority country, but Bali is Hindu โ€” etiquette varies by region.
  • Use your right hand to give and receive things. Handing something with only the left hand is rude.
  • People are warm and relaxed about time ('jam karet' = rubber time). Don't get upset if things run a bit late.

Basics

  1. 1
    Bisa bahasa Inggris?
    Do you speak English? (mainly in tourist areas) “bee-sah bah-hah-sah ing-gris?”
  2. 2
    Saya tidak mengerti
    I don't understand “sah-yah tee-dak meng-er-tee”
  3. 3
    Toilet di mana?
    Where is the toilet? “toy-let dee mah-nah?”
  4. 4
    Tolong bantu saya
    Please help me “to-long ban-too sah-yah”
  5. 5
    Ini apa?
    What is this? “ee-nee ah-pah?”
  6. 6
    Boleh foto di sini?
    May I take a photo here? “bo-leh fo-to dee see-nee?”
  7. 7
    Tunggu sebentar
    Just a moment / Please wait “toong-goo se-ben-tar”
Local etiquette
  • Avoid patting a child's head โ€” the head is considered sacred.
  • Losing your temper or raising your voice in public causes a serious loss of face. Speak softly and with a smile.
  • Some temples and mosques restrict photography, so ask first.

Shopping

  1. 1
    Berapa harganya?
    How much is it? “brah-pah har-gah-nyah?”
  2. 2
    Boleh kurang?
    Can you lower the price? (bargaining is a must) “bo-leh koo-rang?”
  3. 3
    Kemahalan
    That's too expensive “ke-mah-hah-lan”
  4. 4
    Bisa bayar pakai kartu?
    Can I pay by card? “bee-sah bah-yar pah-kai kar-too?”
  5. 5
    Saya mau yang ini
    I'll take this one “sah-yah mau yang ee-nee”
  6. 6
    Minta kantong
    A bag, please “min-tah kan-tong”
Local etiquette
  • Bargaining is expected at markets and souvenir shops. Starting at about half the first price asked is normal.
  • Malls, supermarkets and convenience stores (Indomaret/Alfamart) are fixed-price โ€” no haggling.
  • Vendors often can't break large notes. Carry small bills and coins.

Restaurant

  1. 1
    Meja untuk dua orang
    A table for two “meh-jah oon-took doo-ah o-rang”
  2. 2
    Minta menu
    The menu, please “min-tah menu”
  3. 3
    Ini halal?
    Is this halal? (checks for pork) “ee-nee hah-lal?”
  4. 4
    Jangan pedas
    Not spicy, please (food tends to be spicy) “jang-an peh-das”
  5. 5
    Air putih satu
    One plain (bottled) water “ah-yer poo-teeh sah-too”
  6. 6
    Bungkus, ya
    Takeaway, please “boong-koos, yah”
  7. 7
    Enak!
    Delicious! “eh-nak!”
  8. 8
    Minta bon
    The bill, please “min-tah bon”
Local etiquette
  • Eateries in Muslim areas are usually halal (no pork or alcohol). Bali is the exception, with pork dishes (babi guling) and alcohol widely available.
  • When eating with your hands, always use the right hand only.
  • "Air putih" means plain (bottled) water. Don't drink tap water โ€” order bottled.
  • Food is often quite spicy, so say 'jangan pedas' (not spicy) in advance if you prefer mild.

Getting around

  1. 1
    Saya mau ke...
    I want to go to... “sah-yah mau ke...”
  2. 2
    Pakai Gojek/Grab saja
    I'll use Gojek/Grab (app-hailing is safest) “pah-kai Gojek/Grab sah-jah”
  3. 3
    Pakai argo, ya
    Please use the meter (taxi) “pah-kai ar-go, yah”
  4. 4
    Berhenti di sini
    Please stop here “ber-hen-tee dee see-nee”
  5. 5
    Berapa ongkosnya?
    How much is the fare? “brah-pah ong-kos-nyah?”
  6. 6
    Stasiun/terminal di mana?
    Where is the station / bus terminal? “stah-see-oon/ter-mi-nal dee mah-nah?”
  7. 7
    Tolong pelan-pelan
    Please go slowly (if driving too fast) “to-long pe-lan pe-lan”
Local etiquette
  • App-based rides like Gojek and Grab (including motorbike taxis) avoid overcharging and are safest. For street taxis, confirm they'll use the meter (argo) first.
  • Traffic jams are severe โ€” allow plenty of travel time.
  • Motorbikes even ride on sidewalks, so look both ways carefully when crossing.

Hotel

  1. 1
    Saya sudah pesan
    I have a reservation “sah-yah soo-dah pe-san”
  2. 2
    Boleh check-in?
    Can I check in? “bo-leh check-in?”
  3. 3
    Boleh titip tas?
    Could you keep my bag? “bo-leh tee-tip tas?”
  4. 4
    AC-nya tidak dingin
    The air-con isn't cold “ah-say-nyah tee-dak ding-in”
  5. 5
    Password Wi-Fi apa?
    What's the Wi-Fi password? “password Wi-Fi ah-pah?”
Local etiquette
  • To enter a Balinese temple you must wear a sarong (cloth wrap); one is usually lent at the entrance.
  • Menstruating women are sometimes not allowed into inner temple areas โ€” follow the posted guidance.

Emergency

  1. 1
    Tolong!
    Help! “to-long!”
  2. 2
    Panggil polisi (110)
    Call the police (110) “pang-gil po-lee-see (110)”
  3. 3
    Panggil ambulans (118/119)
    Call an ambulance (118/119) “pang-gil am-boo-lans (118/119)”
  4. 4
    Rumah sakit di mana?
    Where is a hospital? “roo-mah sah-kit dee mah-nah?”
  5. 5
    Paspor saya hilang
    I lost my passport “pass-por sah-yah hee-lang”
Local etiquette
  • Police 110, ambulance 118/119; the unified emergency number 112 also works.
  • Watch for pickpockets and motorbike bag-snatchers in tourist areas โ€” keep valuables out of sight.
  • If you lose your passport, get a police report and contact your embassy (Jakarta) or consulate (Bali).