Easy Bahasa Indonesia Words and Conversations for Traveling

Learning a new language can be challenging and time-consuming, but every small step counts. Don’t worry if Indonesian feels unfamiliar—it’s time to change that! These words will be helpful for both beginners and travelers who want to get things done in Indonesian with a few basic expressions.

  • Halo – Hello
  • Selamat pagi – Good morning
  • Selamat siang – Good afternoon
  • Selamat sore – Good evening
  • Selamat malam – Good night
  • Ya – Yes
  • Tidak – No
  • Tolong – Please
  • Terima kasih – Thank you
  • Terima kasih banyak – Thank you very much
  • Maaf – Excuse me
  • Pak – Mr.
  • Bu – Mrs.
  • Selamat jalan – Have a good journey
  • Sama-sama – You’re welcome
  • Sampai jumpa – See you soon
  • Sampai besok – See you tomorrow

Conversation Samples Using the Above Words

Conversation 1

A: Selamat siang, Bu. (Good afternoon, Mrs.)


B: Selamat siang. Ada yang bisa saya bantu? (Good afternoon. Can I help you with something?)


A: Ya, tolong beritahu saya arah ke kantor ini. (Yes, please tell me the direction to the office.)


B: Maaf, saya tidak tahu. Coba tanya ke orang lain. (Sorry, I don’t know. Try asking someone else.)


A: Baik, terima kasih. (Okay, thank you.)

Conversation 2

A: Selamat malam, Bu. (Good evening, Mrs.)


B: Selamat malam. (Good evening.)


A: Apa Anda butuh bantuan? (Do you need help?)


B: Tidak, terima kasih. (No, thank you.)


A: Baiklah, sampai jumpa. (Alright, see you soon.)

Conversation 3

A: Halo, Bu. (Hello, Mrs.)


B: Halo! (Hello!)


A: Apa benar ini jalan ke stasiun? (Is this the right way to the station?)


B: Ya, benar. (Yes, that’s correct.)


A: Terima kasih banyak. (Thank you very much.)


B: Sama-sama. (You’re welcome.)

Useful Phrases for Talking to Native Speakers of Indonesian

  • Saya tidak mengerti – I don’t understand
  • Tolong diulangi – Repeat, please
  • Tolong bicara pelan-pelan – Speak slowly, please
  • Saya tidak bisa bahasa Indonesia – I don’t speak Indonesian
  • Saya hanya sedikit bisa bahasa Indonesia – I only speak a little Indonesian
  • Saya tidak tahu – I don’t know

Learning the Simplest Words and Phrases to Start a Conversation

  • Nama saya… – My name is…
  • Siapa nama Anda? – What is your name?
  • Apa kabar? – How are you?
  • Saya berasal dari… – I am from…
  • Senang bertemu dengan Anda – Nice to meet you
  • Bagaimana kabar Anda? – How’s it going?
  • Apakah Anda bisa bahasa Inggris? – Do you speak English?
  • Berapa usia Anda? – How old are you?
  • Saya berusia … tahun – I am … years old
  • Saya … – I am …
  • Pria – Man
  • Wanita – Woman
  • Gadis – Girl
  • Anak laki-laki – Boy
  • Anak – Child
  • Teman – Friend
  • Orang – Person

Now that you’ve learned how to address people correctly, it’s important to note certain cultural nuances. In Indonesian culture, men are addressed as “Pak,” while unmarried young women are addressed as “Mbak” (similar to “Miss” in English). Married women are addressed as “Bu.” Following these rules shows good manners and respect.

Exploring Locations

  • Bus – Bus
  • Halte bus – Bus stop
  • Taksi – Taxi
  • Pesawat – Plane
  • Stasiun kereta – Train station
  • Mobil – Car
  • Motor – Motorcycle
  • Tiket – Ticket
  • Kapal – Ship
  • Jadwal – Schedule
  • Sebelah kiri – To the left
  • Sebelah kanan – To the right
  • Di mana halte bus? – Where is the bus stop?
  • Jam berapa sekarang? – What time is it?
  • Saya tersesat – I am lost
  • Tolong bantu saya – Please, help me
  • Metro di mana? – Where is the metro?

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