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Speak Like a Local in Bali: Bahasa Indonesia Phrases and Travel Apps You Need
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by admin
- 23 June 2025
- Bali Practical Tips for Travelers, Language Basics and Apps to Use
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Traveling to Bali isn’t just about breathtaking beaches, iconic rice terraces, or soul-soothing yoga retreats. To truly connect with the island, immerse in its vibrant culture, and navigate it like a pro, speaking a bit of the local language—Bahasa Indonesia—can make all the difference.
Whether you’re bargaining at Ubud Market, ordering street food in Denpasar, or chatting with your guesthouse host in Canggu, learning a few key phrases can transform your experience from touristy to truly immersive. Coupled with the right travel apps, you’ll be navigating Bali with confidence in no time.
This comprehensive guide will walk you through essential Bahasa Indonesia phrases, pronunciation tips, and a curated list of must-have travel apps for Bali. ✈️📱
🌺 Why Learn Bahasa Indonesia for Bali?
Indonesia is home to over 700 languages, but Bahasa Indonesia is the official national language. While English is widely spoken in tourist areas, knowing some Indonesian phrases shows respect, enriches interactions, and can even score you better prices.
Benefits of Speaking Local:
- 🗣️ Enhanced Communication: Especially in rural villages or local markets.
- 🤝 Deeper Cultural Connection: Locals appreciate the effort, often leading to more authentic experiences.
- 💸 Better Bargains: A little language can go a long way in price negotiations.
- 🧭 Smoother Travel: Asking for directions or ordering food becomes effortless.
🧳 Essential Bahasa Indonesia Phrases for Travelers
Below are categorized, practical phrases to help you speak like a local. 🗨️
✋ Greetings and Politeness
| English | Bahasa Indonesia | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Hello | Halo | HAH-lo |
| Good morning | Selamat pagi | suh-LAH-maht PAH-gee |
| Good afternoon | Selamat siang | suh-LAH-maht SEE-ahng |
| Good evening | Selamat sore | suh-LAH-maht SO-ray |
| Good night | Selamat malam | suh-LAH-maht MAH-lahm |
| Thank you | Terima kasih | tuh-REE-mah KAH-see |
| You’re welcome | Sama-sama | SAH-mah SAH-mah |
| Excuse me | Permisi | puhr-MEE-see |
| Sorry | Maaf | MAH-ahf |
| Please | Tolong | TOH-long |
🧭 Getting Around
| English | Bahasa Indonesia | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Where is…? | Di mana…? | dee MAH-nah…? |
| How much? | Berapa? | buh-RAH-pah? |
| I want to go to… | Saya mau ke… | SAH-yah MAH-oo kuh… |
| Turn left/right | Belok kiri/kanan | BEH-lok KEE-ree / KAH-nahn |
| Straight ahead | Lurus saja | LOO-roos SAH-jah |
| Stop here | Berhenti di sini | buhr-HEN-tee dee SEE-nee |
🍛 Food and Drink
| English | Bahasa Indonesia | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| I want to order… | Saya mau pesan… | SAH-yah MAH-oo puh-SAHN |
| Water | Air | AH-yer |
| Spicy | Pedas | puh-DASS |
| Not spicy | Tidak pedas | TEE-dahk puh-DASS |
| Delicious | Enak | EH-nahk |
| I’m vegetarian | Saya vegetarian | SAH-yah veh-geh-tah-REE-ahn |
| No meat, please | Tidak pakai daging | TEE-dahk PAH-kai DAH-geeng |
🏨 Accommodation
| English | Bahasa Indonesia | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Do you have a room? | Ada kamar? | AH-dah KAH-mahr? |
| How much per night? | Berapa per malam? | buh-RAH-pah puhr MAH-lahm? |
| I will stay for 3 nights | Saya akan tinggal tiga malam | SAH-yah AH-kahn TEENG-gahl TEE-gah MAH-lahm |
🚨 Emergency
| English | Bahasa Indonesia | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Help! | Tolong! | TOH-long! |
| I’m lost | Saya tersesat | SAH-yah tuhr-SEH-saht |
| Call the police | Panggil polisi | PAHNG-geel poh-LEE-see |
| I need a doctor | Saya butuh dokter | SAH-yah BOO-tooh DOK-tuhr |
👨👩👧👦 Everyday Conversations
| English | Bahasa Indonesia | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| What is your name? | Siapa nama kamu? | SYAH-pah NAH-mah KAH-moo |
| My name is… | Nama saya… | NAH-mah SAH-yah |
| Where are you from? | Dari mana asal kamu? | DAH-ree MAH-nah AH-sahl KAH-moo? |
| I’m from… | Saya dari… | SAH-yah DAH-ree… |
| How are you? | Apa kabar? | AH-pah KAH-bar? |
| I’m fine | Saya baik | SAH-yah BAH-eek |
| Nice to meet you | Senang bertemu denganmu | suh-NAHNG buhr-TEH-moo duh-NGAN-moo |
| Do you speak English? | Apakah kamu bisa bahasa Inggris? | AH-pah-kah KAH-moo BEE-sah bah-HAH-sah EENG-griss? |
| I don’t understand | Saya tidak mengerti | SAH-yah TEE-dahk meng-uhr-TEE |
🛍️ Shopping & Markets
| English | Bahasa Indonesia | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| How much is this? | Berapa harganya? | buh-RAH-pah har-GAH-nya? |
| Can you give me a discount? | Bisa kurang? | BEE-sah KOO-rang? |
| Too expensive | Terlalu mahal | tuhr-LAH-loo MAH-hal |
| I’m just looking | Saya hanya lihat-lihat | SAH-yah HAN-yah LEE-haht-LEE-haht |
| I’ll take it | Saya ambil ini | SAH-yah AM-beel EE-nee |
🛫 At the Airport
| English | Bahasa Indonesia | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Where is the check-in counter? | Di mana tempat check-in? | dee MAH-nah TUHM-paht check-in |
| Where is gate number…? | Di mana gerbang nomor…? | dee MAH-nah GUHR-bahng NOH-mohr…? |
| I have a connecting flight | Saya punya penerbangan lanjutan | SAH-yah POO-nyah puh-NER-bahng-ahn LAN-joo-tahn |
| I lost my luggage | Saya kehilangan koper saya | SAH-yah keh-HEE-lah-ngahn KOH-pehr SAH-yah |
🏥 Health and Medical Needs
| English | Bahasa Indonesia | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| I feel sick | Saya merasa sakit | SAH-yah muh-RAH-sah SAH-keet |
| I need a pharmacy | Saya butuh apotek | SAH-yah BOO-tooh AH-po-tek |
| I have a headache | Saya sakit kepala | SAH-yah SAH-keet kuh-PAH-lah |
| I have a stomachache | Saya sakit perut | SAH-yah SAH-keet puh-ROOT |
| Is it serious? | Apakah ini serius? | AH-pah-kah EE-nee SEH-ree-oos? |
🌦️ Weather and Environment
| English | Bahasa Indonesia | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| It’s hot | Panas sekali | PAH-nass seh-KAH-lee |
| It’s cold | Dingin sekali | DEENG-een seh-KAH-lee |
| Is it going to rain? | Apakah akan hujan? | AH-pah-kah AH-kahn HOO-jahn? |
| It’s sunny | Cuacanya cerah | CHOO-ah-CHAH-nya CHEH-rah |
| The weather is nice | Cuacanya bagus | CHOO-ah-CHAH-nya BAH-goos |
🎟️ Activities & Entertainment
| English | Bahasa Indonesia | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| What time does it start? | Jam berapa mulainya? | JAM buh-RAH-pah moo-LAI-nya? |
| I’d like to buy a ticket | Saya mau beli tiket | SAH-yah MAH-oo buh-LEE TEE-ket |
| Is there a performance today? | Apakah ada pertunjukan hari ini? | AH-pah-kah AH-dah puhr-TOON-joo-kahn HAR-ee EE-nee? |
| I like this | Saya suka ini | SAH-yah SOO-kah EE-nee |
🧘♂️ Spiritual and Temple Visits
| English | Bahasa Indonesia | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Can I enter the temple? | Boleh saya masuk pura? | BOH-leh SAH-yah MAH-sook POO-rah? |
| Is this a sacred place? | Apakah ini tempat suci? | AH-pah-kah EE-nee TUHM-paht SOO-chee? |
| Do I need to wear a sarong? | Haruskah saya memakai sarung? | HA-roos-kah SAH-yah muh-MAI-kai SAH-roong? |
| Thank you for the blessing | Terima kasih atas berkatnya | tuh-REE-mah KAH-see AH-tahs buhr-KAHT-nya |
💑 Social & Friendly Interactions
| English | Bahasa Indonesia | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Are you married? | Apakah kamu sudah menikah? | AH-pah-kah KAH-moo SOO-dah meh-NEE-kah? |
| I’m single | Saya masih sendiri | SAH-yah MAH-seeh sen-DEE-ree |
| Do you want to hang out? | Mau jalan-jalan bareng? | MAH-oo JAH-lahn-JAH-lahn BAH-reng? |
| This place is amazing! | Tempat ini luar biasa! | TUHM-paht EE-nee loo-AR bee-AH-sah! |
🧑💼 Business and Work (For Digital Nomads)
| English | Bahasa Indonesia | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Do you have Wi-Fi? | Ada Wi-Fi? | AH-dah WI-FI? |
| What’s the password? | Apa kata sandinya? | AH-pah KAH-tah SAHN-dee-nya? |
| I’m working online | Saya bekerja online | SAH-yah buh-KER-jah ON-line |
| Can we schedule a meeting? | Bisa jadwalkan pertemuan? | BEE-sah JAD-wal-kahn puhr-teh-MOO-ahn? |
| I need a quiet place | Saya butuh tempat yang tenang | SAH-yah BOO-tooh TUHM-paht yahng tuh-NAHNG |
🚙 Transportation Extras
| English | Bahasa Indonesia | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| I want to rent a scooter | Saya mau sewa motor | SAH-yah MAH-oo SEH-wah MOH-tohr |
| Is petrol included? | Apakah sudah termasuk bensin? | AH-pah-kah SOO-dah tuhr-MOO-sook BEN-seen? |
| Drive safely | Hati-hati di jalan | HAH-tee HAH-tee dee JAH-lahn |
| How long will it take? | Berapa lama perjalanannya? | buh-RAH-pah LAH-mah puhr-JAH-lahn-ahn-nya? |
🗣️ Tips for Pronouncing Bahasa Indonesia
Bahasa Indonesia uses the Roman alphabet, making it easier to read. Here are a few pronunciation tips:
- C is pronounced like “ch” in “chocolate” → e.g., “cari” = chah-ree (to look for).
- R is rolled lightly, like in Spanish.
- J is pronounced like “j” in “jam”.
- U sounds like “oo” in “food”.
- E can vary: in “besar” (big), it’s like “uh”; in “empat” (four), it’s closer to “eh”.
Practice slowly, and don’t worry—locals are very forgiving and encouraging toward learners!
📱 Top Travel Apps to Navigate Bali Like a Local
1. 🌍 Google Translate
- Translate Bahasa Indonesia in real-time via text, voice, or camera.
- Pro Tip: Download Indonesian for offline use.
2. 🛵 Gojek & Grab
- Bali’s versions of Uber, offering transport, food delivery, massages, and more.
- Use Case: Book a scooter ride to the beach or order mie goreng at midnight.
3. 📍 Maps.me
- Offline maps for when you’re off the grid in Uluwatu or Sidemen.
- Use Case: Hiking or exploring without mobile data.
4. 🏨 Traveloka
- Book flights, hotels, and even tourist activities in Indonesia.
- Use Case: Compare local hotels with better regional pricing.
5. 💬 Learn Bahasa Indonesia App
- Interactive lessons, vocabulary flashcards, and quizzes.
- Use Case: Practice on the flight to Bali!
6. 🏖️ Klook or GetYourGuide
- Discover experiences, book tours, and get real reviews.
- Use Case: Book a Mount Batur sunrise hike with a local guide.
7. 🧘 Bali Events or Meetup
- Connect with yoga classes, surf groups, and spiritual events.
- Use Case: Join a silent retreat in Ubud.
8. 📸 Canva or Snapseed
- Edit your Bali travel photos like a pro.
- Use Case: Share sunset shots from Seminyak with stunning filters.
🧭 Navigating Bali Like a Pro
🛵 Transportation Tips:
- Scooter rental is the most common and fun way to get around—remember to wear a helmet!
- For longer distances, Blue Bird Taxis (with the official app) are reliable.
- Grab/Gojek Car is ideal for air-conditioned rides, especially in traffic-heavy areas.
💰 Currency and Payments:
- The local currency is Indonesian Rupiah (IDR). Cash is king in many places.
- Download Wise or Revolut for excellent currency exchange rates and mobile payments.
- ATMs are widely available, but check fees and limits.
🌱 Cultural Etiquette in Bali
Bali is predominantly Hindu and culturally rich. While locals are welcoming, being culturally aware will win hearts.
- 🧣 Dress modestly when visiting temples—bring a sarong.
- 🙏 Use both hands when giving or receiving items.
- 🚫 Avoid touching heads, especially of children.
- 🚯 Respect offerings (canang sari) on the ground—don’t step on them.
📈 Bonus: 5 Advanced Phrases to Impress Locals
Want to go beyond basics? Try these out:
- “Boleh saya ikut?” – Can I join?
- “Saya suka budaya Bali.” – I love Balinese culture.
- “Apakah ini pedas sekali?” – Is this very spicy?
- “Kamu bisa bantu saya?” – Can you help me?
- “Saya sedang belajar bahasa Indonesia.” – I’m learning Indonesian.
🌅 Final Thoughts
Bali is more than a destination—it’s an experience. And while the beaches and Bintang might bring you there, the people, their stories, and the language will make you fall in love.
Taking the time to learn Bahasa Indonesia, even just a few phrases, unlocks deeper connections and more meaningful adventures. Pair that with the right travel apps, and you’re well on your way to experiencing Bali not as a tourist, but as a mindful traveler—one who speaks from the heart, just like a local.
Selamat jalan dan selamat menikmati Bali! (Have a good trip and enjoy Bali!) 🌞🌴
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