Basic Indonesian Phrases Every Beginner Should Know

Indonesia is a beautiful and diverse country with thousands of islands, rich cultures, and warm hospitality. If you’re planning to visit or just starting to learn Bahasa Indonesia, knowing some basic phrases can be very helpful. Here are some essential Indonesian phrases that every beginner should know:

Greetings and Common Expressions

1. Halo – Hello
2. Selamat pagi – Good morning
3. Selamat siang – Good afternoon
4. Selamat sore – Good evening
5. Selamat malam – Good night
6. Apa kabar? – How are you?
7. Baik, terima kasih – I’m good, thank you
8. Sampai jumpa – See you later
9. Selamat tinggal – Goodbye
10. Terima kasih – Thank you
11. Sama-sama – You’re welcome
12. Maaf – Sorry/Excuse me
13. Tolong – Please (asking for help)

Basic Conversations

1. Siapa nama Anda? – What is your name?
2. Nama saya … – My name is …
3. Dari mana Anda berasal? – Where are you from?
4. Saya dari … – I am from …
5. Anda bisa berbahasa Inggris? – Do you speak English?
6. Saya tidak mengerti – I don’t understand
7. Bisa ulangi? – Can you repeat?

Numbers and Counting

1. Satu – One
2. Dua – Two
3. Tiga – Three
4. Empat – Four
5. Lima – Five
6. Enam – Six
7. Tujuh – Seven
8. Delapan – Eight
9. Sembilan – Nine
10. Sepuluh – Ten
11. Sebelas – Eleven
12. Dua belas – Twelve
13. Tiga belas – Thirteen
14. Empat belas – Fourteen
15. Lima belas – Fifteen
16. Enam belas – Sixteen
17. Tujuh belas – Seventeen
18. Delapan belas – Eighteen
19. Sembilan belas – Nineteen
20. Dua puluh – Twenty
21. Dua puluh satu – Twenty one
22. Tiga puluh – Thirty
23. Tiga puluh satu – Thirty one
24. Empat puluh – Fourty
25. Empat puluh satu-Fourty one
26. Lima Puluh – Fifty
27. Lima Puluh Satu – Fifty one
28. Enam puluh – Sixty
29. Enam puluh satu – Sixty one
30. Tujuh puluh – Seventy
31. Tujuh puluh satu – Seventy one
32. Delapan puluh – Eighty
33. Delapan puluh satu – Eighty one
34. Sembilan puluh – Ninety
35. Sembilan puluh satu – Ninety one
36. Seratus – One hundrad
37. Seratus satu – One hundrad and one
38. Seribu – One thousand
39. Seribu satu – One thousand and one
40. Satu juta – One million
41. Satu juta satu – One million and one
42. Satu miliar – One billion
43. Satu miliar satu – One billion and one
44. Satu triliun – One trillion
45. Satu triliun satu – One trillion and one

Asking for Directions

1. Di mana …? – Where is …?
2. Bagaimana cara pergi ke …? – How do I get to …?
3. Belok kanan – Turn right
4. Belok kiri – Turn left
5. Lurus terus – Go straight ahead
6. Berapa jauh dari sini? – How far is it from here?

Shopping and Dining

1. Berapa harganya? – How much does it cost?
2. Bisa lebih murah? – Can it be cheaper?
3. Saya mau membeli ini – I want to buy this
4. Ada menu dalam bahasa Inggris? – Do you have an English menu?
5. Saya ingin pesan … – I want to order …
6. Makanan ini enak! – This food is delicious!

Emergencies

1. Tolong bantu saya! – Please help me!
2. Saya butuh dokter – I need a doctor
3. Saya tersesat – I’m lost
4. Panggil polisi! – Call the police!
5. Di mana rumah sakit terdekat? – Where is the nearest hospital?

Learning these basic phrases will make your experience in Indonesia much smoother and more enjoyable. Don’t be afraid to practice speaking with locals—they will appreciate your effort and might even help you improve! Selamat belajar (Happy learning)!