Indonesia is one of the world’s most linguistically diverse countries, with over 700 languages spoken across its vast archipelago. While Bahasa Indonesia serves as the national language and unifies the country, regional languages like Javanese, Sundanese, and Balinese are widely spoken in various provinces. Understanding the basics of these languages can greatly enrich your travel experience, helping you connect with locals and navigate your journey with ease. This guide provides an overview of Indonesia’s main languages, essential travel phrases, and tips to help you get started.

Bahasa Indonesia: The National Language 🇮🇩

Bahasa Indonesia is the official language of Indonesia and is spoken by nearly the entire population. It is used in education, media, government, and daily communication. Simple to learn and pronounced as it is written, Bahasa Indonesia uses the Latin alphabet and has straightforward grammar, making it accessible for travelers.

Basic Phrases for Travelers in Bahasa Indonesia

Hello/Hi — Halo – Ha-lo

Goodbye — Selamat tinggal – Suh-lah-maht ting-gahl

Thank you — Terima kasih – Te-ree-mah kah-see

Please — Tolong – Toh-long

Sorry — Maaf – Mah-ahf

How much? — Berapa? – Ber-ah-pah?

Where? — Di mana? – Dee mah-nah?

Help! — Tolong! – Toh-long!

Yes — Ya – Yah

No — Tidak – Tee-dahk

I love Indonesia! — Saya cinta Indonesia! – Sa-yah chin-tah In-doh-nee-see-ah

My name is… — Nama saya… – Nah-mah sa-yah

What’s your name? — Siapa nama Anda? – See-ah-pah nah-mah Ahn-dah?

How are you? — Apa kabar? – Ah-pah kah-bar?

I like your smile — Saya suka senyummu – Sa-yah soo-kah sen-yoo-moo

Javanese: The Language of Central and East Java

Javanese is the most widely spoken regional language in Indonesia, with over 80 million speakers primarily in Central and East Java. Rich in proverbs and expressions, Javanese is often used alongside Bahasa Indonesia and has different levels of speech depending on the social context.

Basic Phrases for Travelers in Javanese

Hello/Hi — Halo – Ha-lo

Goodbye — Sugeng tindak – Soo-geng tin-dahk

Thank you — Matur nuwun – Mah-toor noo-woon

Please — Monggo – Mong-go

Sorry — Nuwun sewu – Noo-woon seh-woo

How much? — Pinten? – Peen-ten?

Where? — Wonten pundi? – Won-ten poon-dee?

Help! — Tulung! – Too-loong!

Yes — Inggih – Ing-gee

No — Mboten – Mboh-ten

I love Indonesia! — Aku tresna Indonesia! – Ah-koo tres-nah In-doh-nee-see-ah

My name is… — Asmanipun kula… – As-mah-nee-poon koo-lah

What’s your name? — Asmanipun panjenengan sinten? – As-mah-nee-poon pan-jeh-ne-ngan seen-ten?

How are you? — Priyayi kepiye? – Pree-yah-yee keh-pee-yeh?

I like your smile — Aku remen eseme sampeyan – Ah-koo reh-men eh-seh-meh sahm-pie-yan

Sundanese: The Language of West Java

Sundanese is spoken by around 42 million people, primarily in West Java, including Bandung and the surrounding areas. Sundanese is known for its soft, melodic sound and is deeply embedded in local traditions and cultural expressions.

Basic Phrases for Travelers in Sundanese

Hello/Hi — Halo – Ha-lo

Goodbye — Wilujeung – Wee-loo-jung

Thank you — Hatur nuhun – Ha-toor noo-hoon

Please — Mangga – Mang-gah

Sorry — Hapunten – Ha-poon-ten

How much? — Sabaraha? – Sah-bah-rah-ha?

Where? — Di mana? – Dee mah-nah?

Help! — Tulung! – Too-loong!

Yes — Sumuhun – Soo-moo-hoon

No — Henteu – Hen-tew

I love Indonesia! — Abdi bogoh ka Indonesia! – Ahb-dee boh-goh kah In-doh-nee-see-ah

My name is… — Nami abdi… – Nah-mee ahb-dee

What’s your name? — Nami anjeun saha? – Nah-mee ahn-yen sah-ha?

How are you? — Kumaha damang? – Koo-mah-ha dah-mang?

I like your smile — Abdi resep seuri anjeun – Ahb-dee reh-sep seh-oo-ree ahn-yen

Balinese: The Language of Bali

Balinese is spoken in Bali, a predominantly Hindu island, where language, religion, and art are intertwined. Balinese is often heard during temple ceremonies, traditional dances, and local interactions, reflecting the island’s deep spiritual heritage.

Basic Phrases for Travelers in Balinese

Hello/Hi — Om Swastiastu – Om swah-stee-ah-stoo

Goodbye — Sampai jumpa – Sahm-pie joom-pah

Thank you — Matur suksma – Mah-toor sooks-mah

Please — Mangkin – Mang-keen

Sorry — Maaf – Mah-ahf

How much? — Kenken ne? – Ken-ken neh?

Where? — Nyen di? – Nyen dee?

Help! — Tulung! – Too-loong!

Yes — Inggih – Ing-gee

No — Sing – Sing

I love Indonesia! — Tiang tresna Indonesia! – Tee-ang tres-nah In-doh-nee-see-ah

My name is… — Tiang wastan… – Tee-ang wah-stan

What’s your name? — Nyen panak titiang? – Nyen pah-nak tee-tee-ang?

How are you? — Kenken kabare? – Ken-ken kah-bah-reh?

I like your smile — Tiang demen yening titiang mesem – Tee-ang deh-men yen-ing tee-tee-ang meh-sem

Tips for Learning and Using Indonesian Languages

Navigating Indonesia’s diverse linguistic landscape is easier when you have a few basic tools at your disposal. Here are some tips to help you get started:

Language Apps

Duolingo: Great for beginners, offering a fun way to learn Bahasa Indonesia with interactive lessons.

Memrise: Ideal for vocabulary building, with useful phrases and pronunciation guides.

Babbel: Focuses on real-life conversations and dialogue examples to help you learn practical language skills.

Google Translate: Download the Indonesian language pack for offline access—perfect for on-the-go translations in remote areas.

Practice your new phrases with locals—they’ll appreciate your effort, and you’ll pick up more natural language use. Don’t be afraid of making mistakes; language learning is all about practice! If you’re traveling to specific regions like Bali or Java, learn a few words in the local language. It shows respect and is often met with smiles and warmer interactions.

Indonesia’s linguistic diversity is as vast and rich as its culture. Whether you’re learning Bahasa Indonesia for everyday communication or picking up regional phrases to connect deeper with locals, every effort helps in making your travel experience more fulfilling. So get started with these essential phrases, download some language apps, and immerse yourself in the beautiful languages of Indonesia. Selamat jalan! (Safe travels!) 🌏✨