With so many different languages around the world going on, we’re lucky that the touristic places in Bali do speak and understand English. Not only the English language, some guides and travel agencies are able to communicate in different languages. For example French, Dutch, German, Italian, Japanese and many more.
However let’s try to learn some simple words and phrases that you can use while you are here. Local Balinese are often able to speak Bahasa Bali, Bahasa Indonesia and English. Interesting fact: Balinese and Indonesian languages are not dialects, they’re totally different.
Bahasa Indonesia words and phrases (spoken all over Indonesia)
These words and phrases will help you out when you are in Bali. Local people will like it when you try their language. Note that it is normal to say cousin/brother/auntie as a form of respec
| English | Bahasa Indonesia | Phonetic sound |
| Cousin / brother | Mas / Bli | Mas / Bli |
| Cousin / sister | Ba / mbok | Ba / m – bo |
| Auntie | Ibu / bu | I-bu / bu |
| Uncle | Bapak / pak | ba-pak / pa |
| Breakfast | sarapan | sa – ra – pan |
| Lunch | Makan siang | Ma – kan si – ang |
| Dinner | Makan Malam | Ma – kan Ma – lam |
| Good morning | Selamat Pagi | Se – la -mat pa-gi |
| Good Afternoon (11am till 2 pm) | Selamat siang | Se – la -mat si – ang |
| Good evening (when sun is down) | Selamat malam | Se – la -mat Ma – lam |
| Can you speak English? | Bisa bahasa Inggris | Bi-sa ba – ha – sa Inggris |
| Can you help | minta tolong | min-ta to-long |
| I am looking for bathroom | saya cari wc | sa-ya tja – ri wee-cee |
| How much does it cost? | berapa harganya? | be-ra-pa har-ga – nya |
| Expensive | Mahal | Ma-hal |
| Cheap | Murah | Mu-rah |
| My name is Dwi | nama saya Dwi | Na – ma sa – ya Dwi |
| Yes | Iya | I – ya |
| No | Tidak | Ti-da |
| Thank you | Terima Kasih | Te – ri -ma ka- si |
| Already | Sudah | su – da |
| Spicy | Pedas | Pu – das |
| Not Spicy | Tidak Pedas | Ti-da Pu – das |
| Sorry | Maaf | Ma – af |
| How are you | Apa kabar | a-pa ka-bar |
| Good | Baik | Baik |
| Sleep | Tidur | Ti-dur |
When you are asked for Taxi, massage, or somebody talks to you on the street selling something, you could reply: No thank you, Tidak Terima Kasih.
When it persists, like somebody selling something you already have, you can say, sudah.
Ordering some place
If you order tea or anything, it comes with (lots) of sugar. So you need to use the word tawar, in this context it means tea without sugar. It can also be used for coffee.
Local taste buds are different and spicy taste is very normal. If you don’t want your food spicy, mention tidak pedas
