Which language should I learn for a trip to Bali?

Which language should I learn for a trip to Bali? - Young lady learning sign language during online lesson with female tutor

I plan to travel to Bali and want to learn some basic words in native language, like "Hello", "Thank you", ....

But I'm not sure which language is native to Bali. It looks like there are Indonesian (Malay) and multiple forms of Balinese language.

Which one should I choose?



Best Answer

Since Bali's main income is from tourism, you can survive by just using English, and the local people are able to speak English or at least "broken English" (This is not applicable to any other island in Indonesia).

If you want to use local language, you better choose to learn a bit of Indonesian words. Some basic words (other than what MeNoTalk has mentioned) can be found below :

  • YES : Ya
  • No : Bukan / Tidak (formal) Enggak (informal)
  • Police : Polisi
  • Eat : Makan
  • Food : Makanan ( Makan with postfix -an )
  • Drink : Minum
  • Sleep : Tidur
  • Cheap : murah
  • Help : Tolong
  • Medicine : Obat
  • Country : Negara
  • Name : Nama



Pictures about "Which language should I learn for a trip to Bali?"

Which language should I learn for a trip to Bali? - Side view of female friends sitting at table in university library and using sign language
Which language should I learn for a trip to Bali? - Young female friends communicating using sign language in library
Which language should I learn for a trip to Bali? - Yellow Tassel



Can you speak English in Bali?

Despite the highest level of English skill, not all Balinese speak English. Some people may speak English extremely fluent, but some just speak English for interaction and not very fluent. Bahasa Indonesia is the lingua franca in the country and of course spoken in Bali.

Should I learn Indonesian Balinese?

You definitely should choose Bahasa Indonesia since it is spoken by all people in Bali and all other islands of Indonesia.

Do people speak Spanish in Bali?

Due to the high number of visitors that Bali receives every year (about 4 million tourists), English is also one of the languages spoken on the island, especially in hotels, restaurants and shops. You can also find staff who speak German, Chinese, Spanish or even Russian.

What to Know Before travelling to Bali?

Essential Bali travel tips: what to know before you go
  • Expect crowds. ...
  • Choose your base carefully. ...
  • Don't fret about "Bali belly" ...
  • Dress for the occasion. ...
  • Respect religious customs. ...
  • Prepare for a mixed bag of price tags. ...
  • Be cautious of wild and stray animals. ...
  • Avoid plastic water bottles.




Bali Travel Guide - How to travel Bali for First-timers




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