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Wanting to share your trip with a group?
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Wanting to share your trip with a group?
To truly enrich your experience during your stay in Indonesia, a little knowledge of the local language goes a long way. At Shanti Travel, our decades of experience have taught us that even a few words of Bahasa Indonesia can open doors, forge genuine connections, and show deep respect for Indonesian culture. If you're preparing for a trip to Indonesia, mastering even these basics of the language will make your journey even more memorable.
The language you will hear the most during your holiday in Indonesia is the Bahasa Indonesia. It has been the official language since 1945, drawing its roots from Arabic, Chinese, and even Latin! The archipelago boasts not only this unifying language but more than 700 local dialects and regional languages, a testament to Indonesia’s astounding diversity.
Most Indonesians are fluent in Bahasa Indonesia, as it is taught and used in schools. However, at home and in their daily lives, people often switch to their local dialects, especially in rural areas and among the elderly. The older generation, particularly those born before the 1950s, sometimes speak only their regional language.
Youth in cities or tourist areas will usually try to speak English with you, but introducing even a simple greeting in Bahasa will be warmly received.
Below are a few words and phrases to help you get started and feel at ease during your journey:
| ENGLISH | BAHASA INDONESIA |
|---|---|
| Reception | Kembali |
| Hi | Salam |
| Hello | Selamat pagi / siang / sore / malam |
| Goodbye (if you're leaving) | Selamat tinggal |
| Goodbye (if you're staying) | Selamat jalan |
| Thank you | Terima kasih |
| Yes | Ya |
| No | Tidak |
| Well | Bagus |
| Ok | Okedeh |
| How are you? | Apa kabar? |
| Excuse me | Permisi |
| Sorry | Maaf |
| I am British | Saya dari Inggris |
| My name is... | Nama saya... |
| I don't understand | Saya tidak mengerti |
| ENGLISH | BAHASA INDONESIA |
|---|---|
| Can you help me? | Bisa bantu saya? |
| Do you speak English? | Apakah kamu bisa berbicara bahasa Inggris? |
| Can you repeat please? | Bisa tolong diulang? |
| Can you speak slowly? | Bisa bicara lebih pelan? |
| Can we stop for a minute? | Apakah kita bisa berhenti untuk beberapa menit? |
| Can we stop to take pictures? | Apakah kita bisa berhenti untuk mengambil foto? |
| Where can we find…? | Di mana kita bisa cari… |
| Do you have postcards? | Apakah kamu ada kartu pos? |
| Do you have stamps? | Apakah kamu jual perangko? |
| How? | Bagaimana? |
| Why? | Kenapa? |
| When? | Kapan? |
| Where? | Di mana? |
| ENGLISH | BAHASA INDONESIA |
|---|---|
| Could you please wake me up at 8 tomorrow morning? | Bisa tolong bangunkan saya jam 8 pagi besok? |
| Let's meet at 10AM tomorrow | Besok kita bertemu jam 10 pagi. |
| Let's meet here in... | Kita bertemu lagi di sini setelah... |
| Can we stop at... | Apakah kita bisa ke / melihat... |
| How long is it to get there? | Berapa lama perjalanannya? |
| What time is it? | Jam berapa, ya? |
| Tomorrow | Besok |
| Yesterday | Kemarin |
| Tonight | Malam ini |
| Today | Hari ini |
| ENGLISH | Bahasa Indonesia |
|---|---|
| Do you have coffee/sandwich? | Bisa order satu kopi / sandwich? |
| Can I have breakfast/lunch/dinner? | Saya mau makan pagi / siang / malam. |
| How much is it? | Berapa harganya? |
| Eat | Makan |
| Drink | Minum |
| ENGLISH | BAHASA INDONESIA |
|---|---|
| Train station | Stasiun kereta |
| Airport | Bandara |
| Price | Harganya |
| Spoon | Sendok |
| Fork | Garpu |
| Knife | Pisau |
| Glass | Gelas |
| Bank | Bank |
| Post | Kantor pos |
| Doctor | Dokter |
| Hospital | Rumah sakit |
| Bill | Billnya / Notanya |
| Stop | Berhenti |
| Washroom | Kamar kecil |
| Pharmacy | Apotek |
| Toilet paper | Tisu |
| More | Lebih |
| Less | Kurang |
With these tips and phrases, you’ll be able to interact with locals in a way that is both practical and respectful, while gaining an insider’s experience of Indonesian hospitality. At Shanti Travel, we believe that language is a bridge to authentic travel, and we encourage every traveler to embrace the beauty and subtlety of Bahasa Indonesia to make your journey even more meaningful.
