Bahasa for Travellers
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. (Balinese — Bahasa Bali — is a separate local language; for day-to-day, Indonesian is what you'll use.)
The essentials
Greetings
Getting around & shopping
Eating out
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.
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.
Getting into the culture? Our Bali Guide covers the traditions, ceremonies and etiquette that make the island what it is.
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