Sundanese, a Malayo-Polynesian language, is primarily spoken in the western part of the island of Java, Indonesia. It’s the second most spoken regional language in Indonesia after Javanese. Learning Sundanese can enhance your cultural experience and understanding of the Sundanese people’s rich heritage. This lesson covers essential conversational phrases and questions in Sundanese, designed to facilitate various social interactions.

Greetings

• Hello/Hi – “Halo” / “Hai” (Informal and borrowed from Indonesian) / “Wilujeng” (Formal and traditional)
• Good morning – “Wilujeng énjing”
• Good afternoon – “Wilujeng siang”
• Good evening – “Wilujeng sonten”
• Goodbye – “Mangga, wilujeng” (Polite) / “Dadah” (Informal)

Introducing Yourself or Others

• My name is [name]. – “Abdi [name].”
• This is [name]. – “Ieu [name].”
• I am from [country]. – “Abdi ti [country].”
• I live in [city/place]. – “Abdi cicing di [city/place].”

Asking for Directions or People

• Where is the [place]? – “Di mana [place]?”
• How do I get to [place]? – “Kumaha carana ka [place]?”
• Is this the way to [place]? – “Naha ieu jalanna ka [place]?”
• Can you show me on the map? – “Tiasa nunjukkeun dina peta?”

Solving a Misunderstanding

• Sorry, I don’t understand. – “Hapunten, abdi teu ngartos.”
• Can you please repeat that? – “Bisa diulang deui?”
• I mean… – “Maksad abdi…”
• What does [word] mean? – “Naon hartosna [word]?”

Farewell Expressions

• See you later – “Mangga, urang tepang deui”
• Take care – “Sing ati-ati”
• Have a good day – “Mugia gaduh dinten anu saé”

Travel and Dining

• I would like to book a room. – “Abdi hoyong mesen kamar.”
• Can I see the menu, please? – “Tiasa ningali menu?”
• I am vegetarian. – “Abdi vegetarian.”
• The bill, please. – “Mangga, cek tagihanana.”

Shopping

• How much does this cost? – “Sabaraha ieu téh?”
• Do you have this in another size? – “Aya ukuran séjén?”
• I’m just looking, thanks. – “Mung ningali wungkul, hatur nuhun.”
• Can I pay by card? – “Bisa mayar nganggo kartu?”

Dating and Love

• You look beautiful. (to a woman) / You look handsome. (to a man) – “Anjeun katingal geulis.” / “Anjeun katingal ganteng.”
• I miss you. – “Abdi sono ka anjeun.”
• I love you. – “Abdi tresna ka anjeun.”
• Would you like to go out with me? – “Naha anjeun hoyong kaluar jeung abdi?”

Emergencies

• Help! – “Tulung!”
• Call the police! – “Telepon polisi!”
• I need a doctor. – “Abdi peryogi dokter.”
• Where is the nearest hospital? – “Di mana rumah sakit anu pangdeukeutna?”

These phrases provide a foundation for basic communication in Sundanese. Practice speaking and listening regularly, engage with Sundanese 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 the Sundanese language.