Essential Bahasa Indonesia Phrases Every Traveler Should Know

Why Learning Basic Bahasa Indonesia Matters

Bahasa Indonesia is one of the most accessible languages for English speakers to pick up at a basic level. It uses the Latin alphabet, has no tones (unlike many Southeast Asian languages), and its grammar is relatively straightforward. Even a handful of phrases will open doors, earn smiles, and show respect — Indonesians genuinely appreciate any effort a foreigner makes to speak their language.

English is spoken in tourist areas, major hotels, and among younger Indonesians in cities, but venture beyond those zones and Bahasa Indonesia becomes essential.

Basic Greetings and Politeness

English	Bahasa Indonesia	Pronunciation Guide
Hello / Hi	Halo	hah-loh
Good morning	Selamat pagi	seh-lah-mat pah-gee
Good afternoon	Selamat siang	seh-lah-mat see-ahng
Good evening	Selamat sore	seh-lah-mat soh-reh
Goodbye	Selamat tinggal / Sampai jumpa	sahm-pie joom-pah
Thank you	Terima kasih	teh-ree-mah kah-see
You're welcome	Sama-sama	sah-mah sah-mah
Please	Tolong / Silakan	toh-long / see-lah-kahn
Sorry / Excuse me	Maaf	mah-ahf
Yes / No	Ya / Tidak	yah / tee-dahk

Useful Phrases for Getting Around

• "Di mana...?" — Where is...? (e.g., Di mana toilet? — Where is the toilet?)
• "Berapa jauh?" — How far is it?
• "Belok kiri / kanan" — Turn left / Turn right
• "Lurus terus" — Go straight ahead
• "Berhenti di sini" — Stop here (very useful in taxis and ojek rides)
• "Saya mau ke..." — I want to go to...

Ordering Food and Drink

• "Saya mau pesan..." — I would like to order...
• "Tidak pedas" — Not spicy (essential for sensitive stomachs!)
• "Pedas sekali" — Very spicy
• "Tanpa MSG" — Without MSG
• "Air putih" — Plain water
• "Minta bon" — May I have the bill?
• "Enak sekali!" — Very delicious! (A phrase that will delight any cook)

Bargaining at Markets

Bargaining (tawar-menawar) is normal and expected in traditional markets. Use these phrases:

• "Berapa harganya?" — How much does it cost?
• "Mahal sekali" — That's very expensive
• "Boleh kurang?" — Can you lower the price?
• "Saya beli dua, boleh diskon?" — I'll buy two, can I get a discount?
• "Oke, deal" — OK, deal (this one is universal!)

Emergency Phrases

• "Tolong!" — Help!
• "Panggil polisi!" — Call the police!
• "Saya butuh dokter" — I need a doctor
• "Saya sakit" — I am sick
• "Di mana rumah sakit?" — Where is the hospital?

Don't worry about perfect pronunciation — Indonesians are encouraging and patient with learners. Making the effort to use even a few of these phrases will significantly enrich your experience in Indonesia.