Basic Bahasa Indonesia for Malaysians
You can half-follow the language already and want a few useful phrases ready.
IndonesiaQuest Editorial · Updated 20 October 2026
Bahasa Indonesia is based on Malay, and it serves as the common language across the archipelago [1]. Malaysians already understand more than they expect. A short phrase list still helps, because a few words differ and locals appreciate the effort [3].
Which phrases should you learn first?
| Situation | Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Greeting | Selamat pagi | Good morning |
| Thanks | Terima kasih | Thank you |
| Shopping | Berapa harga? | How much does it cost? |
| Asking for English | Bisa bicara bahasa Inggris? | Can you speak English? |
| After a meal | Enak sekali | That was delicious |
These are taken from a travel phrase list that Bali.com publishes [2]. Add kiri (left) and kanan (right) for directions in the car. Your driver may follow slow, clear Malay too.
Should you say Anda or kamu?
Anda and saya are the formal forms, while kamu and aku are informal [4]. Use the formal pair with hotel staff, drivers and shop owners you have just met. Switch to the casual pair only when the other person does first.
Want a second pair of eyes on your plan?
If language is the part of the trip that worries you, send us your dates and party. We can look at the route and pass your brief to a licensed agency that arranges an English or Malay-speaking driver.
You get a reply from a person who reads your plan, plus a quote from a licensed Malaysian agency if you want one.Where will you use it on the trip?
You will use it at warung (small local eateries), with drivers, at hotel desks and when asking directions. In a warung, pointing at the dish and saying what you want works better than a long sentence. Our nasi campur explainer shows how to order from a glass case, and our losmen and homestay explainer prepares you for small guesthouses.
Some everyday words differ from what you use at home, so check an unfamiliar word before you act on it. Our guide on Indonesian and Malay differences lists the ones that matter. The driver communication guide covers maps and sharing your route.
What if you do not understand?
Say “saya tidak mengerti” (I don’t understand) and let the other person repeat slowly. Keep a translation app and offline maps ready for addresses and prices. Show the hotel’s name on your phone instead of spelling it aloud.
Keep planning
- Nasi campur: what is on the plateA glass case of unfamiliar dishes is in front of you and the queue is moving.
- Losmen and homestay: what they meanA listing says homestay and you wonder what the room and the bathroom will be like.
- VoA: visa on arrival in IndonesiaYou see the letters VoA on a forum and wonder whether they apply to you.
- Bali, planned for Malaysian travellersYou have limited leave, a family to keep happy and one island everyone keeps recommending.
- Yogyakarta, planned for Malaysian travellersYou want temples, craft and slow streets, and your parents cannot climb or walk all day.
- A first-time guide to Bali cultural-visit etiquetteYou want to visit temples and ceremonies in Bali respectfully, without worrying about getting it wrong.
Questions Malaysians ask
Can Malaysians understand Indonesian?
Much of it, because Indonesian is based on Malay. You will follow greetings and simple sentences quickly, while some everyday words differ. Check any unfamiliar word before acting on it, and learn a short list of phrases for drivers, warung and hotels.
Do I need to speak Indonesian in Bali?
You can get by with English at hotels and tourist areas, but locals appreciate visitors who try a few words of Bahasa Indonesia. Greetings, thank you and how much are enough to start. Show addresses on your phone for drivers.
Should I use Anda or kamu with strangers?
Use Anda and saya, the formal pair, with hotel staff, drivers and shop owners you have just met, and switch to kamu and aku only when the other person does so first. Formal forms are the sensible default when you are unsure.
Ready to shape your Indonesia trip?
If language is the part of the trip that worries you, send us your dates and party. We can look at the route and pass your brief to a licensed agency that arranges an English or Malay-speaking driver.
You get a reply from a person who reads your plan, plus a quote from a licensed Malaysian agency if you want one.