Indonesian Phrases for Travelers | Your Friendly Guide to Getting Around

You don't need to be fluent. You don't need to memorize a textbook. You just need enough common Indonesian phrases for travelers to get by, connect with locals, and maybe even make someone smile.

The beautiful thing about Indonesia? The national language works everywhere. Bali, Jakarta, Yogyakarta, Lombok, Sumatra, same language. Learn a little, and suddenly the whole country opens up.

This guide focuses on what actually matters: greetings, eating, shopping, getting around, and handling everyday situations. No grammar drills. No perfect pronunciation pressure. Just real phrases you'll actually use.

Table of Contents

1. Quick Guide: Most Useful Indonesian Phrases

2. Why Bother Learning Indonesian Phrases?

3. Before You Start: A Few Simple Rules

4. Part 1: Everyday Essential Phrases

   • Greetings That Work Everywhere

   • Getting Someone's Attention

   • The Magic Word: Permisi

   • Yes, No, Thank You

5. Part 2: Eating Out

   • Ordering Food

   • The Spice Question

   • Rice: The Default

   • Paying and Complimenting

6. Part 3: Shopping and Bargaining

7. Part 4: Getting Around

   • Ride-Hailing

   • Driving Yourself

   • Asking for Directions

8. Part 5: Numbers You'll Actually Use

9. Part 6: Emergencies

10. Part 7: Making Friends and Small Talk

11. Quick Reference: Cheat Sheet

12. FAQ

13. Your Indonesian Adventure Starts Here

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Quick Guide: Most Useful Indonesian Phrases for Travelers

situation	indonesian phrase	say it like this	meaning
greeting	selamat pagi	su-la-mat pa-gee	good morning
thank you	terima kasih	tu-ree-mah ka-see	thank you
thanks (casual)	makasih	ma-ka-see	thanks!
excuse me	permisi	per-mee-see	excuse me / sorry
yes / no	iya / tidak	ee-yah / tee-dak	yes / no
how much?	berapa?	bu-ra-pah	how much?
delicious!	enak!	eh-nak	yum! / delicious!
i want...	saya mau...	sa-ya ma-oo	i'd like...
where is...?	di mana...?	dee ma-na	where is...?
help!	tolong!	to-long	help! / please

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Why Bother Learning Indonesian Phrases for Travelers?

You might be thinking: "But everyone in Bali speaks English, right?"

True. In tourist areas, plenty of people speak English. But Indonesia is massive. Step outside the tourist bubble, even just a short drive from the beach, and English disappears fast.

Here's why learning even a little matters:

• Locals genuinely appreciate it. A simple "terima kasih" with a smile goes further than you'd think.
• You'll pay local prices. Knowing "berapa?" at markets changes everything.
• Emergencies are less scary. If something goes wrong, you can at least ask for help.
• You can explore anywhere. Want to visit a random village, try a street stall, or take a local bus? Basic phrases make it possible.
• It's actually fun. There's something satisfying about ordering your own food in Indonesian and getting it right.

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Before You Start: A Few Simple Rules

Indonesian is one of the easiest Asian languages for English speakers. No tenses. No genders. No complicated grammar.

Pronunciation basics for English speakers:

letter	sounds like	example
a	"u" in "cup" but a bit longer	makan (ma-kan)
i	"ee" in "see"	sini (see-nee)
u	"oo" in "food"	buku (boo-koo)
e	can be "ay" in "bay" or "e" in "bed"	bebek (bay-bek), enak (eh-nak)
c	"ch" in "cheese"	cinta (chin-ta)
r	roll it a little, like Scottish "r"	roti (ro-tee)

Pro tip: Don't stress about perfect pronunciation. Indonesians are incredibly patient with foreigners trying to speak. Just attempt it. You'll be fine.

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Part 1: Everyday Essential Indonesian Phrases for Travelers

Greetings That Work Everywhere

Indonesian greetings depend on the time of day. Learn these four, and you're covered from sunrise to bedtime.

english	indonesian	say it like this	when to use it
good morning	selamat pagi	su-la-mat pa-gee	early morning until about 10-11 am
good afternoon	selamat siang	su-la-mat see-ang	late morning to mid-afternoon
good evening	selamat sore	su-la-mat so-ray	late afternoon until sunset
good night	selamat malam	su-la-mat ma-lam	after dark

Try this conversation:

You: Selamat pagi! (su-la-mat pa-gee)
Local: Pagi! Mau ke mana? (pa-gee! ma-oo ke ma-na)
You: Jalan-jalan saja. (ja-lan ja-lan sa-ja)

Note: Once you've greeted someone, you can drop the "selamat" and just say the time of day. "Pagi!" is friendly and casual.

Getting Someone's Attention

In Indonesia, you don't shout "hey!" You use polite words based on who you're talking to.

who	call them	say it like this	example
older man	pak	pak	permisi, pak...
older woman	bu	boo	permisi, bu...
young man	mas	mas	mas, boleh tanya?
young woman	mbak	mbak (soft "m")	mbak, ini berapa?

Pak and Bu are short for bapak (father) and ibu (mother). Even for strangers, it's respectful. Mas and Mbak are for people around your age or younger.

The Magic Word: Permisi

Permisi is your best friend in Indonesia. It means "excuse me" but also "sorry" when you need to squeeze past someone. Say it like per-mee-see. Use it constantly.

You: Permisi, boleh lewat? (per-mee-see, bo-leh le-wat)
Local: Silakan! (see-la-kan)

Yes, No, Thank You

english	indonesian	say it like this	notes
yes	iya	ee-yah or just ya	casual, everyday
yes	ya	ya	even shorter
no	tidak	tee-dak	standard
no	nggak	ng-gak (like "ng-gak")	casual, like "nah"
thank you	terima kasih	tu-ree-ma ka-see	formal
thanks	makasih	ma-ka-see	casual, friendly
you're welcome	sama-sama	sa-ma sa-ma	literally "same-same"

Try this conversation:

You: Ini berapa? (ee-nee bu-ra-pah)
Vendor: Dua puluh ribu. (doo-ah poo-loo ree-boo)
You: Oke, saya ambil. Makasih! (o-kay, sa-ya am-beel. ma-ka-see)
Vendor: Sama-sama! (sa-ma sa-ma)

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Part 2: Eating Out – Essential Indonesian Phrases for Travelers

Indonesia is food paradise. But menus aren't always in English, and street vendors definitely won't be. Here's how to handle it.

Ordering Food

english	indonesian	say it like this
i want to order...	saya mau pesan...	sa-ya ma-oo pe-san
this one	yang ini	yang ee-nee
that one	yang itu	yang ee-too
how many?	berapa?	bu-ra-pah
one of these	ini satu	ee-nee sa-too
two of those	itu dua	ee-too doo-ah

Pro tip: Just point at the menu or the food itself and say "yang ini." Works every time.

Try this conversation at a warung (small eatery):

You: Permisi, Mbak. (per-mee-see, mbak)
Server: Iya, mau pesan apa? (ee-yah, ma-oo pe-san a-pah)
You: Yang ini satu, yang itu dua. (yang ee-nee sa-too, yang ee-too doo-ah)
Server: Makan di sini atau dibungkus? (ma-kan dee see-nee a-tow dee-boong-koos)
You: Di sini. (dee see-nee)
Server: Dua puluh lima ribu. (doo-ah poo-loo lee-ma ree-boo)
You: Ini, makasih. (ee-nee, ma-ka-see)

The Spice Question

Indonesian food can be really spicy. Here's how to handle it:

english	indonesian	say it like this	notes
spicy?	pedas?	pe-das
not spicy	tidak pedas	tee-dak pe-das
a little spicy	pedas sedikit	pe-das su-dee-kit
extra spicy	pedas banget	pe-das bang-et	"banget" means "very"
with chili	pakai cabe	pa-kai cha-bay
no chili	tidak pakai cabe	tee-dak pa-kai cha-bay

Warning: When Indonesians say "sedikit pedas" (a little spicy), they often mean actually quite spicy. Trust but verify.

Rice: The Default

english	indonesian	say it like this
with rice	pakai nasi	pa-kai na-see
no rice	tidak pakai nasi	tee-dak pa-kai na-see
fried rice	nasi goreng	na-see go-reng
fried noodles	mie goreng	mee go-reng

Try this:

Server: Pakai nasi, nggak? (pa-kai na-see, ng-gak)
You: Iya, pakai. (ee-yah, pa-kai)
or
You: Nggak, tanpa nasi. (ng-gak, tan-pa na-see)

Paying and Complimenting

english	indonesian	say it like this
how much total?	total berapa?	to-tal bu-ra-pah
delicious!	enak!	eh-nak
really delicious!	enak banget!	eh-nak bang-et
the food is great	makanannya enak	ma-ka-nan-ya eh-nak

Pro tip: Saying "enak banget!" with enthusiasm will make any cook's day.

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Part 3: Shopping and Bargaining Indonesian Phrases for Travelers

Indonesian markets are vibrant, chaotic, and so much fun. Bargaining is expected, but do it with a smile.

english	indonesian	say it like this
how much?	berapa?	bu-ra-pah
too expensive	mahal	ma-hal
too expensive, really	mahal banget	ma-hal bang-et
can it be cheaper?	boleh kurang?	bo-leh koo-rang
a little cheaper	kurang sedikit	koo-rang su-dee-kit
what's the best price?	harga pas berapa?	har-ga pas bu-ra-pah
i'll take it	saya ambil	sa-ya am-beel
just looking	lihat-lihat saja	lee-hat lee-hat sa-ja

Try this conversation at a market:

You: Ini berapa, Mbak? (ee-nee bu-ra-pah, mbak)
Vendor: Seratus lima puluh ribu. (su-ra-toos lee-ma poo-loo ree-boo)
You: Wah, mahal banget. Boleh kurang? (wah, ma-hal bang-et. bo-leh koo-rang)
Vendor: Mau berapa? (ma-oo bu-ra-pah)
You: Seratus ribu, boleh? (su-ra-toos ree-boo, bo-leh)
Vendor: Iya, boleh. (ee-yah, bo-leh)
You: Deal! Makasih! (deal! ma-ka-see)

Golden rule: Bargain with a smile, never get angry, and be willing to walk away. If they say no, it's fine—there's always another stall.

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Part 4: Getting Around – Driving and Transportation Indonesian Phrases for Travelers

This is where indonesian phrases for travelers become absolutely essential. Whether you're using ride-hailing apps, taxis, or renting a car, these phrases will save you.

Ride-Hailing

Most people in Indonesia use raid-hailing instead of taxis. The apps are easy, but you still need to communicate with your driver.

english	indonesian	say it like this
i want to go to...	saya mau ke...	sa-ya ma-oo ke
pick me up at...	jemput di...	jem-put dee
i'm at the hotel	saya di hotel	sa-ya dee ho-tel
wait a moment	tunggu sebentar	toong-goo su-ben-tar
i'm on the side of the road	saya di pinggir jalan	sa-ya dee ping-geer ja-lan
stop here	berhenti di sini	ber-hen-tee dee see-nee
turn left	belok kiri	be-lok kee-ree
turn right	belok kanan	be-lok ka-nan
straight ahead	lurus terus	loo-roos too-roos

Try this conversation with a driver:

Driver: Pak, sudah sampai. (pak, soo-dah sam-pai)
You: Iya, saya tunggu sebentar, ya. (ee-yah, sa-ya toong-goo su-ben-tar, ya)
Driver: Oke.
(you get in the car)
You: Mau ke Mall Kelapa Gading. (ma-oo ke mal ke-la-pa ga-ding)
Driver: Lewat tol atau biasa? (le-wat tol a-tow bee-a-sa)
You: Biasa saja. (bee-a-sa sa-ja)
(later, stuck in traffic)
Driver: Macet, Pak. (ma-chet, pak)
You: Iya, nggak apa-apa. (ee-yah, ng-gak a-pa a-pa)

Driving Yourself (Renting a Car)

If you rent a car with WAHDAH, you might need these phrases for parking attendants, gas stations, and police checks.

english	indonesian	say it like this	notes
where is the parking?	di mana parkir?	dee ma-na par-keer
is there parking here?	ada parkir di sini?	a-da par-keer dee see-nee
how much for parking?	berapa biaya parkir?	bu-ra-pah bee-a-ya par-keer
full tank, please	isi penuh, ya	ee-see pe-noo, ya
fill with...	isi dengan...	ee-see de-ngan
petrol	bensin	ben-seen
diesel	solar	so-lar
check the tire pressure	periksa tekanan ban	pe-rik-sa te-ka-nan ban

At a police checkpoint:

Officer: Selamat malam, Pak. Bisa lihat SIM? (su-la-mat ma-lam, pak. bee-sa lee-hat sim)
You: Iya, tentu. (ee-yah, ten-too)
(hand over your international driving permit)
Officer: Mau ke mana? (ma-oo ke ma-na)
You: Mau ke hotel di Seminyak. (ma-oo ke ho-tel dee se-mee-nyak)
Officer: Oke, hati-hati di jalan. (o-kay, ha-tee ha-tee dee ja-lan)
You: Terima kasih, Pak. (tu-ree-ma ka-see, pak)

Asking for Directions

Getting lost is part of travel. Here's how to find your way back.

english	indonesian	say it like this
where is...?	di mana...?	dee ma-na
the toilet	toilet	toy-let
the mosque	masjid	mas-jeed
the beach	pantai	pan-tai
the atm	atm	a-tay-em
the nearest hospital	rumah sakit terdekat	roo-mah sa-keet ter-de-kat
is it far?	jauh?	ja-woo
is it near?	dekat?	de-kat
how many kilometers?	berapa kilometer?	bu-ra-pah kee-lo-me-ter

Try this conversation asking directions:

You: Permisi, Pak. Di mana masjid terdekat? (per-mee-see, pak. dee ma-na mas-jeed ter-de-kat)
Local: Oh, lurus terus, belok kanan, kira-kira 500 meter. (oh, loo-roos too-roos, be-lok ka-nan, kee-ra kee-ra le-ma ra-toos me-ter)
You: Lurus, belok kanan. (loo-roos, be-lok ka-nan)
Local: Iya, betul. (ee-yah, be-tool)
You: Makasih banyak, Pak! (ma-ka-see ban-yak, pak)
Local: Sama-sama. (sa-ma sa-ma)

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Part 5: Numbers You'll Actually Use

Forget counting to a million. Here are the numbers that matter for travelers.

number	indonesian	say it like this	use for
1	satu	sa-too	one item
2	dua	doo-ah	two items
3	tiga	tee-ga	three items
4	empat	em-pat	four items
5	lima	lee-ma	five items
10	sepuluh	se-poo-loo
100	seratus	se-ra-toos
1,000	seribu	se-ree-boo	one thousand
10,000	sepuluh ribu	se-poo-loo ree-boo	ten thousand – common price
50,000	lima puluh ribu	lee-ma poo-loo ree-boo	fifty thousand
100,000	seratus ribu	se-ra-toos ree-boo	one hundred thousand

Pro tip: Prices are always in thousands. When someone says "lima puluh" they mean 50,000, not 50. Listen for "ribu" (thousand).

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Part 6: Emergencies and Important Situations

Hopefully you never need these. But if you do, you'll be grateful.

english	indonesian	say it like this
help!	tolong!	to-long
call the police	panggil polisi	pang-geel po-lee-see
i need a doctor	saya perlu dokter	sa-ya per-loo dok-ter
where is the hospital?	di mana rumah sakit?	dee ma-na roo-mah sa-keet
i'm lost	saya tersesat	sa-ya ter-se-sat
i lost my passport	paspor saya hilang	pas-por sa-ya hee-lang
i'm sick	saya sakit	sa-ya sa-keet
my stomach hurts	perut saya sakit	pe-root sa-ya sa-keet
pharmacy	apotek	a-po-tek
help me, please	tolong saya	to-long sa-ya

Emergency numbers in Indonesia:

• police: 110

• ambulance: 118 or 119

• fire: 113

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Part 7: Making Friends and Small Talk

Indonesians are famously friendly. If you show interest, they'll chat with you for hours.

english	indonesian	say it like this
what's your name?	siapa nama anda?	see-a-pa na-ma an-da
my name is...	nama saya...	na-ma sa-ya
where are you from?	dari mana?	da-ree ma-na
i'm from...	saya dari...	sa-ya da-ree
australia	australia	os-tra-lee-a
america	amerika	a-me-ree-ka
england	inggris	ing-gris
singapore	singapura	sing-a-poo-ra
malaysia	malaysia	ma-lay-see-a
how old are you?	umur berapa?	oo-moor bu-ra-pah
i'm... years old	umur saya... tahun	oo-moor sa-ya... ta-hoon
do you have children?	punya anak?	poo-nya a-nak
i like indonesia	saya suka indonesia	sa-ya soo-ka in-do-nee-see-a
indonesian food is delicious	makanan indonesia enak	ma-ka-nan in-do-nee-see-a eh-nak

Try this conversation making friends:

Local: Dari mana? (da-ree ma-na)
You: Saya dari Australia. (sa-ya da-ree os-tra-lee-a)
Local: Australia! Jauh sekali! (os-tra-lee-a! ja-woo se-ka-lee)
You: Iya, jauh. Tapi Indonesia bagus. (ee-yah, ja-woo. ta-pee in-do-nee-see-a ba-goos)
Local: Sudah lama di sini? (soo-dah la-ma dee see-nee)
You: Baru tiga hari. (ba-roo tee-ga ha-ree)
Local: Suka makanan Indonesia? (soo-ka ma-ka-nan in-do-nee-see-a)
You: Suka! Enak banget! (soo-ka! eh-nak bang-et)
Local: Senang dengar! (se-nang de-ngar)

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Quick Reference: Indonesian Phrases Cheat Sheet

situation	say this	pronounce it
greeting (morning)	selamat pagi	su-la-mat pa-gee
greeting (afternoon)	selamat siang	su-la-mat see-ang
excuse me	permisi	per-mee-see
thank you	terima kasih	tu-ree-ma ka-see
thanks (casual)	makasih	ma-ka-see
yes	iya	ee-yah
no	tidak	tee-dak
how much?	berapa?	bu-ra-pah
too expensive	mahal	ma-hal
can it be cheaper?	boleh kurang?	bo-leh koo-rang
delicious!	enak!	eh-nak
i want this	saya mau ini	sa-ya ma-oo ee-nee
where is...?	di mana...?	dee ma-na
help!	tolong!	to-long
goodbye	sampai jumpa	sam-pai joom-pa
see you later	sampai nanti	sam-pai nan-tee

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Indonesian Phrases for Travelers: FAQ

Do I need to speak Indonesian in Bali?
In tourist areas like Kuta, Seminyak, and Ubud, many people speak English. But step outside those areas, and Indonesian becomes essential. Even in Bali, a little Indonesian goes a long way.

Is Indonesian hard to learn?
No! Indonesian is one of the easiest Asian languages. No tenses, no genders, no plurals. Pronunciation is straightforward. You can learn useful phrases in a day.

Will Indonesians laugh at my bad Indonesian?
Never. Indonesians love when foreigners try to speak their language. Even if you mess up, they'll appreciate the effort. Just smile and try.

What's the most important word to learn?
"Terima kasih" (thank you). Use it constantly. Also "permisi" (excuse me) for getting attention or squeezing past people.

How do I ask for the bill at a restaurant?
Say "Minta bon" (min-ta bon) or "Minta bill" (min-ta bil). Most staff will understand.

What does "sudah" mean?
"Sudah" means "already" or "done." You'll hear it constantly. "Sudah makan?" means "Have you eaten?" "Sudah mandi?" means "Have you bathed?" It's a common greeting, not weird.

How do I say "I don't understand"?
"Saya tidak mengerti" (sa-ya tee-dak me-nger-tee). Or simpler: "Tidak paham" (tee-dak pa-ham).

Is it okay to bargain everywhere?
In traditional markets, yes. In supermarkets, malls, and restaurants with fixed prices, no. When in doubt, watch what locals do.

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Your Indonesian Adventure Starts Here

Learning even a handful of indonesian phrases for travelers transforms your trip. Suddenly you're not just a tourist—you're someone who made an effort. Someone who cares. Someone locals want to help.

And the best part? You don't need to be fluent. You just need to try.

Start with greetings. Add "terima kasih." Throw in "berapa?" at markets. By the end of your trip, you'll be surprising yourself with how much you've picked up.

But here's the thing: to really explore Indonesia—to visit that remote village, to try that hidden warung, to chase that waterfall everyone told you was too hard to find—you need wheels.

Public transport doesn't go everywhere. Tours stick to the script. Taxis add up fast.

Explore Indonesia Your Way with WAHDAH

Unlimited mileage – drive from Jakarta to Bandung, from Bali to Lombok, without watching the odometer. explore freely.

Flexible pickup & drop-off – pick up at the airport, your hotel, anywhere. return at a different location. we make it easy.

Customer support – lost? need help with directions? our local team answers the phone. 

Well-maintained vehicles – clean, comfortable, reliable cars with ice-cold ac. perfect for indonesian heat and long drives.

Self-drive or with driver – want total freedom? go self-drive. prefer to relax? our professional drivers know the roads and the language.

Your Indonesian adventure starts with the right car.
Book your WAHDAH rental car now 

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Final thought: Language isn't about perfection. It's about connection. A smile, a "selamat pagi," and a genuine effort to communicate will take you further than any phrasebook ever could.

Selamat jalan! (have a good trip!)

Read more: What to Buy in Jakarta | 9 Authentic & Budget-Friendly Souvenirs