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.
Contents
- 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 …
Words Related to People that Learners Should Know
- 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
Navigating the City: Essential Phrases
- 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?
What to Read Next
- Basic Bahasa Indonesia Words: Health and Medical Emergency
- Basic Bahasa Indonesia Words: Hobbies
- Basic Bahasa Indonesia Words: Markets and Bargains
- Basic Bahasa Indonesia Words: Numbers and Quantities
- Learning Bahasa Indonesia: A Guide for Beginners
- The Complete Guide to Learning Indonesian Language Online and Available Courses