When you arrive in Indonesia, having a reliable toolkit of common Indonesian phrases changes how people interact with you. Even if your grammar is imperfect, knowing how to greet someone warmly, ask for directions politely, and express gratitude in natural Indonesian immediately earns appreciation and goodwill.

Here are the 50 most common Indonesian phrases used across daily life, categorized by practical scenarios so you can find exactly what you need.

1. Greetings and First Introductions

Indonesian greetings change depending on the time of day, transitioning around sunrise, midday, late afternoon, and dusk:

Indonesian Phrase	Pronunciation Hint	English Meaning
Halo / Hai	HAH-loh / hye	Hello / Hi (friendly and universal)
Selamat pagi	suh-LAH-mat PAH-gee	Good morning (until ~11am)
Selamat siang	suh-LAH-mat SEE-ahng	Good day / midday (11am to 3pm)
Selamat sore	suh-LAH-mat SOH-ray	Good afternoon (3pm to 6:30pm)
Selamat malam	suh-LAH-mat MAH-lahm	Good evening / night
Apa kabar?	AH-pah KAH-bahr?	How are you? (literally "what news?")
Kabar baik / Baik-baik saja	KAH-bahr BYE-eek	Good news / I am doing well
Siapa nama Anda / kamu?	see-AH-pah NAH-mah AHN-dah?	What is your name?
Nama saya [Name].	NAH-mah SAH-yah [Name]	My name is [Name].
Senang bertemu dengan Anda.	suh-NAHNG buhr-tuh-moo duh-ngahn AHN-dah	Nice to meet you.

2. Politeness, Courtesy, and Gratitude

In Indonesian culture, courtesy carries immense weight. These expressions soften any request:

"Terima kasih banyak!" = Thank you very much!
"Sama-sama." = You are welcome / No problem at all.
"Permisi..." = Excuse me (used when walking past someone or politely getting attention).
"Maaf..." = Sorry / I apologize (used when making a mistake or asking for forgiveness).
"Tolong..." = Please (specifically for requesting assistance: "Tolong bantu saya" = Please help me).
"Silakan..." = Please go ahead / You're welcome to do so (inviting someone to sit, eat, or enter).
"Nggak apa-apa." (casual) / "Tidak apa-apa." (formal) = No worries, it is totally fine.
"Mari..." = Respectful passing greeting (equivalent to "good day" or "after you").

3. Navigating Food and Dining Out

Whether dining at an authentic neighborhood warung, a cafe, or a night market, these phrases ensure you get what you want:

"Mau pesan makanan, Mas." = I'd like to order food, brother.
"Bisa minta menu?" = Could I see the menu?
"Ini makanan apa ya?" = What kind of dish is this?
"Jangan terlalu pedas ya, Bu." = Not too spicy please, ma'am.
"Tidak pedas sama sekali." = Not spicy at all.
"Makan di sini" (dine in) or "Bungkus" (takeaway / to go).
"Minta air putih dingin satu." = One cold plain water, please.
"Minta bill / Mau bayar." = Can I have the bill / I'd like to pay.
"Enak banget!" = It's so delicious!
"Sudah kenyang, makasih." = I am already full, thank you.

4. Directions, Transport, and Scooter Rides

Getting around Indonesian cities or islands is straightforward once you know these directional phrases:

"Di mana toilet / kamar mandi?" = Where is the restroom?
"Mau ke [Location], berapa harganya?" = I want to go to [Location], what is the fare?
"Belok kiri" = Turn left | "Belok kanan" = Turn right | "Lurus terus" = Go straight ahead.
"Berhenti di sini saja, Pak." = Please stop right here, sir.
"Dekat sini ada ATM?" = Is there an ATM near here?
"Jauh nggak dari sini?" = Is it far from here?
"Tolong antarkan ke alamat ini." = Please take me to this address.
"Bisa putar balik di depan?" = Can you make a U-turn up ahead?
"Jalan ini macet banget ya." = This road is very congested.

5. Shopping and Traditional Markets

At traditional markets (pasar) and souvenir kiosks, polite bargaining in Indonesian often results in local prices:

"Berapa harganya ini, Mas?" = How much does this cost, brother?
"Bisa kurang sedikit?" = Could you lower the price a little?
"Mahal banget, Mas. Lima puluh ribu boleh?" = That's quite expensive, brother. Would 50,000 IDR be okay?
"Harga pasnya berapa?" = What is your bottom fixed price?
"Bisa bayar pakai kartu / QRIS?" = Can I pay by card or QRIS digital payment?
"Ada warna lain?" = Do you have another color?
"Cuma mau lihat-lihat dulu ya." = I'm just browsing for now.
"Oke, saya ambil yang ini." = Alright, I will take this one.

6. Everyday Small Talk and Casual Responses

Indonesians are sociable and love to chat. These conversational phrases keep interactions flowing naturally:

"Mau ke mana?" = Where are you heading? (Standard friendly greeting). Reply: "Mau jalan-jalan saja" (Just going for a stroll).
"Sudah makan belum?" = Have you eaten yet? Reply: "Sudah, tadi makan nasi" (Yes, I had rice earlier).
"Tinggal di mana?" = Where are you living / staying? Reply: "Saya tinggal di Sanur" (I stay in Sanur).
"Sudah berapa lama di Indonesia?" = How long have you been in Indonesia?
"Saya baru dua minggu di sini." = I have only been here for two weeks.
"Bahasa Indonesia saya masih sedikit." = My Indonesian is still modest.
"Bisa bicara lebih pelan?" = Could you speak a little slower?
"Boleh saya foto di sini?" = May I take a photo here?
"Sampai jumpa lagi!" = See you again!
"Hati-hati di jalan ya!" = Take care on the road!

Put These Phrases to Work Today

You do not need to memorize all 50 phrases overnight. Pick five phrases every morning, write them down, and make a conscious point to use them with shopkeepers, scooter drivers, and cafe staff during your day. To hear how native Indonesian speakers pronounce these expressions and practice them with interactive audio dialogues, sign up for free lessons at Learn Indonesian Easy Way.

Common Indonesian Phrases: 50 Real-World Expressions for Every Situation