Indonesian, also known as Bahasa Indonesia, is the official language of Indonesia. It’s a standardized form of Malay and is spoken by millions in Indonesia and around the world. Learning Indonesian can be quite straightforward due to its phonetic nature and relatively simple grammar. This lesson covers essential conversational phrases and questions in Indonesian for various social interactions.
Greetings
- Hello/Hi – “Halo” / “Hai”
- Good morning – “Selamat pagi”
- Good afternoon – “Selamat siang” (from about 11 am to 3 pm) / “Selamat sore” (from about 3 pm to 6 pm)
- Good evening – “Selamat malam”
- Goodbye – “Selamat tinggal” (when you are leaving) / “Selamat jalan” (when someone else is leaving)
Introducing Yourself or Others
- My name is [name]. – “Nama saya [nama].”
- This is [name]. – “Ini adalah [nama].”
- I am from [country]. – “Saya dari [negara].”
- I live in [city/place]. – “Saya tinggal di [kota/tempat].”
Asking for Directions or People
- Where is the [place]? – “Di mana [tempat]?”
- How do I get to [place]? – “Bagaimana saya bisa ke [tempat]?”
- Is this the way to [place]? – “Apakah ini jalan ke [tempat]?”
- Can you show me on the map? – “Bisa tunjukkan di peta?”
Solving a Misunderstanding
- Sorry, I don’t understand. – “Maaf, saya tidak mengerti.”
- Can you please repeat that? – “Bisa ulangi itu?”
- I mean… – “Maksud saya…”
- What does [word] mean? – “Apa arti dari [kata]?”
Farewell Expressions
- See you later – “Sampai jumpa lagi”
- Take care – “Jaga diri”
- Have a good day – “Semoga hari Anda baik”
Travel and Dining
- I would like to book a room. – “Saya ingin memesan kamar.”
- Can I see the menu, please? – “Bisa lihat menu, tolong?”
- I am vegetarian. – “Saya vegetarian.”
- The bill, please. – “Tolong, minta bonnya.”
Shopping
- How much does this cost? – “Berapa harganya?”
- Do you have this in another size? – “Apakah Anda memiliki ini dalam ukuran lain?”
- I’m just looking, thanks. – “Saya hanya melihat-lihat, terima kasih.”
- Can I pay by card? – “Bisa bayar dengan kartu?”
Dating and Love
- You look beautiful. (to a woman) / You look handsome. (to a man) – “Kamu cantik.” / “Kamu tampan.”
- I miss you. – “Saya rindu kamu.”
- I love you. – “Saya cinta kamu.”
- Would you like to go out with me? – “Apakah kamu mau pergi dengan saya?”
Emergencies
- Help! – “Tolong!”
- Call the police! – “Panggil polisi!”
- I need a doctor. – “Saya butuh dokter.”
- Where is the nearest hospital? – “Di mana rumah sakit terdekat?”
These phrases provide a solid foundation for basic communication in Indonesian. Practice speaking and listening regularly, engage with Indonesian media, and don’t hesitate to converse with native speakers. Remember, language learning is a journey—embrace mistakes as learning opportunities and continue to explore the rich linguistic and cultural nuances of Indonesian.