Moving to Bali? 25 Indonesian Phrases You Need Before You Land

So you've made the decision. You're moving to Bali -- maybe as a digital nomad, maybe for a fresh start. Welcome to the club.

Here's the thing most expat guides won't tell you: learning even basic Indonesian will completely transform your experience.

The Daily Essentials

1. Selamat pagi / siang / sore / malam -- Good morning / afternoon / late afternoon / evening
2. Apa kabar? -- How are you?
3. Baik-baik saja -- I'm fine
4. Terima kasih -- Thank you (literally "receive love")
5. Sama-sama -- You're welcome (literally "same-same")
6. Tolong -- Please / Help
7. Maaf -- Sorry / Excuse me
8. Permisi -- Excuse me (passing by)

Introductions

1. Nama saya [name] -- My name is...
2. Saya dari Amerika / Australia / Inggris -- I'm from...
3. Saya sedang belajar bahasa Indonesia -- I'm learning Indonesian (magic phrase)
4. Saya tinggal di Bali -- I live in Bali

Getting Around Bali

1. Saya mau ke... -- I want to go to...
2. Di mana...? -- Where is...?
3. Dekat / Jauh -- Near / Far
4. Berapa lama? -- How long?
5. Belok kiri / kanan -- Turn left / right
6. Berhenti di sini -- Stop here

Food & Drink

1. Saya mau... -- I want...
2. Nasi goreng / Mie goreng -- Fried rice / Fried noodles
3. Tidak pedas -- Not spicy
4. Enak sekali! -- Very delicious!

Expat Survival Phrases

1. Berapa harganya? -- How much does it cost?
2. Terlalu mahal -- Too expensive
3. Ada WiFi? -- Is there WiFi?

Start with our Greetings & Basics module!