Bahasa Indonesia is the national language of Indonesia and is spoken throughout the Gili Islands. It is the second language for the local Sasak community (their first is Sasak), and the main language used between Indonesians from different regions. Bahasa Indonesia is remarkably easy to learn for beginners: no tones, no gendered nouns, simple grammar, and phonetic pronunciation. Learning even a handful of phrases will dramatically improve your interactions with locals.
Pronunciation basics
Indonesian pronunciation is much easier than English:
- a as in "father"
- e usually as "uh" (like the e in "her") or sometimes "eh"
- i as in "machine"
- o as in "so"
- u as in "put"
- c as "ch" in "chair"
- g always hard, as in "go"
- j as in "judge"
Unlike English, every letter is pronounced. Stress is usually on the second-to-last syllable.
Greetings
Basic politeness
Introductions
Numbers
Food & drink
Shopping & money
Directions
Travel & accommodation
Help & emergencies
Compliments
A few Sasak phrases (Lombok's local language)
The Sasak people of Lombok also speak Sasak, their indigenous language. Most understand Bahasa Indonesia too, but learning a word or two of Sasak is especially appreciated in local areas:
A note on respect
Indonesian has different levels of formality. As a visitor, the general polite forms in this guide are appropriate for most situations. When speaking to older people, you can add "Pak" (sir) or "Bu" (ma'am) before their name or in place of it. For example, "Terima kasih Pak" (Thank you, sir).
Most importantly: attempt the language, smile, and don't be afraid to make mistakes. Locals appreciate the effort enormously and will be patient and encouraging. A clumsy "Terima kasih" is always better than a polished "Thanks."