Bali Guide by IZZI · Culture and community
30 phrases that make Bali warmer
Indonesian with pronunciation: thank you, greetings by time of day, directions for your driver, ordering food and haggling at a market.
In Balinese it's Suksma (SOOK-sma). The reply is Sama-sama (SA-ma SA-ma). Almost every warm exchange on this island starts here.
You don't need to speak Indonesian to enjoy Bali — but a handful of phrases changes everything. Bahasa Indonesia is one of the easier languages to dabble in: no tones, no tricky alphabet, and locals genuinely light up when a visitor tries. Below are 30 phrases worth knowing, written the way they sound.
How to read it: pronunciation is roughly phonetic — "c" sounds like "ch", and every letter is pronounced. Don't worry about perfection; the effort is what counts, not the accent.
The essentials
Greetings
There is no all-purpose "hello" in daily use — the greeting changes with the time of day.
Getting around and shopping
These six words cover most of daily life: asking a price, haggling at a market, and telling a driver where to turn. Where bargaining is expected and where it's rude is covered in the tipping and bargaining guide.
"Kiri", "kanan" and "lurus" earn their keep with a Gojek or Grab driver when GPS drifts in the narrow lanes — which happens constantly in Bali. How both apps work is in the Gojek and Grab guide.
Eating out
Enak is the most rewarding word on this list. Said to the cook or the server after a meal, it lands better than any tip.
Handy extras
A little Balinese goes far
Indonesian works everywhere, but on Bali a couple of Balinese words are a lovely touch. Suksma (SOOK-sma) is "thank you" in Balinese, and Om Swastiastu is the traditional Balinese greeting you'll hear at ceremonies and temples. Use them and watch faces light up — but Indonesian is all you need to get by day to day. What actually happens at those ceremonies is explained in the temple etiquette guide.
Quick answers
How do you say thank you in Indonesian?
"Terima kasih" (ter-EE-ma KA-see). In Balinese it's "Suksma". "You're welcome" is "Sama-sama".
What language do they speak in Bali?
Day-to-day it's Bahasa Indonesia, the national language. Balinese (Bahasa Bali) is a separate local language used among Balinese; as a visitor you'll use Indonesian.
How do you say hello in Bali?
Use the time-of-day greeting: "Selamat pagi" (morning), "siang" (midday), "sore" (afternoon), "malam" (evening). The Balinese greeting is "Om Swastiastu".
Is Indonesian hard to learn?
It's one of the easier languages for beginners — no tones, a familiar alphabet, and words are pronounced as written. A handful of phrases goes a long way.
Will people understand me in English?
In tourist areas, yes — cafes, hotels and drivers manage fine. The Indonesian phrases aren't there so you can be understood; they're there so you're treated differently.
Read next
Somewhere to try "enak" for the first time
IZZI Rooftop in Batu Belig is a fifth-floor terrace between Canggu and Seminyak — sunset, dinner, cocktails and shisha in one place. Open 2 PM to 4 AM with the kitchen running until 2:30. The menu covers Indonesian classics and things the island rarely does well: borscht, handmade dumplings, salmon steak. No minimum order.
More from this guide: Bali Guide by IZZI · food and evening guides
IZZI Rooftop — Restaurant, Bar & Shisha Lounge · Google Maps · Tripadvisor 4.9 · @izzi_bali · WhatsApp
JL. BATU BELIG NO.38, FLOOR 5 · DAILY 2 PM – 4 AM