Bahasa Indonesia · 63 phrases · 7 categories

Basic Indonesian Phrases for Travelers

Hello in Indonesian is Halo / Selamat, thank you is Terima kasih, and the one to memorise before anything else is Tolong! — help. Below: all 63 phrases across 7 travel situations, each one tappable to copy.

Reasonable in Bali and Jakarta. Limited in Java's smaller cities, across Sumatra and through the eastern islands.

Address an older man as Pak and an older woman as Bu. It is the normal courteous form, not stiff or formal.

The Indonesian phrases to learn first

A greeting, a thank-you, an apology, a question, a price and an emergency — enough to get through a first day in Bahasa Indonesia.

Hello

Halo / Selamat

Thank you

Terima kasih

Please

Tolong

Excuse me / sorry

Permisi / Maaf

Do you speak English?

Apakah Anda bisa bahasa Inggris?

How much is this?

Berapa harganya?

Where is...?

Di mana...?

Help!

Tolong!

How Indonesian is written

Latin alphabet, spelled almost exactly as it sounds — the easiest major Asian language to read aloud on day one.

Where it gets you further

Indonesia, and close enough to Malay to get by in Malaysia, Brunei and Singapore.

🇮🇩 Indonesian — Indonesia

Saying Bahasa Indonesia out loud

  • No tones and no verb conjugation, which is why it is considered one of the easiest languages to start.
  • C is always ch — cari is CHA-ree.
  • Every letter is pronounced, and the vowels keep the same value in every word.
  • Plurals are made by repeating the word: jalan is street, jalan-jalan is to go for a stroll.
  • Stress is light and fairly even; there is no strong stressed syllable as in English.

The mistake travelers make in Indonesian: Bali speaks Balinese at home as well, but Indonesian is universally understood there — you do not need to learn both.

All 63 Indonesian phrases, by situation

Yes

Ya

No

Tidak

Please

Tolong

Thank you

Terima kasih

You're welcome

Sama-sama

Excuse me / Sorry

Permisi / Maaf

I don't understand

Saya tidak mengerti

Do you speak English?

Apakah Anda bisa bahasa Inggris?

I don't speak [lang]

Saya tidak bisa bahasa Indonesia

A little

Sedikit

Phrase guides in other languages

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Ready to Go?

You've got the phrases — now plan your full trip with costs, transport, and a day-by-day itinerary.

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