Upon the declaration of the country’s independence was the declaration of Indonesian also called as the Bahasa Indonesia. The Indonesian language is based on the Riau version of the Malay language.

The list below is the common phrases used in everyday conversation.

IndonesianEnglish

• Ya


• Tidak


• Selamat (siang | pagi | sore | malam)


• Apa kabar?


• Baik, dan (ibu | bapak)?


• Terima kasih


• Kembali


• Silakan (masuk | duduk)


• Ke (kiri | kanan)


• Terus or Lurus


• Berhenti! or Stop!


• Selamat (jalan | tinggal)


• Maaf


• Salah


• Permisi


• Hati – hati


• Awas!


• Tambah lagi?


• Habis


• Satu lagi


• Minta bon

• Yes (but often times means as no)


• No


• Good (day | morning | afternoon | evening)


• How are you? What’s new?


• Fine, and you? (to a woman | to a man)


• Thank you


• You’re welcome


• Please (come in | sit down)


• To the (left | right)


• Straight ahead


• Stop!


• Good – bye (to person leaving | person staying)


• I am sorry


• Wrong


• Excuse me


• Careful


• Watch out!


• Do you want more?


• Finished


• One more (works well for ordering beers)


• Bill, please