The essentials in 30 seconds
- 1
A single national language against 700+ local languages
Bahasa Indonesia was chosen as the unifying national language since the 1945 independence, in an archipelago with over 700 distinct local languages.
- 2
Balinese, a regional language in Bali
Balinese stays spoken in Bali, but mostly in family, ceremonial and religious contexts, tied to the Balinese Hindu caste system. Its use is declining among younger generations, schooled in Indonesian.
- 3
English, widely present in Bali
The English level runs much higher in Bali (hotels, restaurants, tourist businesses) than in the rest of the archipelago, where it stays more limited outside tourist areas.
- 4
A Latin alphabet, no reading barrier
Unlike many Asian destinations, Indonesian is written in the Latin alphabet, with no special characters to learn to read signs and menus.
- 5
A relatively simple grammar
Indonesian is known for its accessible grammar (no complex conjugation, no gender), making it easy to quickly pick up a few useful basics for a trip.
Everyday useful phrases
Enough to cover the most common situations.
| English | Indonesian | Use | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hello | Selamat pagi / siang / sore | Depending on the time of day (morning/noon/evening) | ||
| Thank you (very much) | Terima kasih (banyak) | Usable in any situation | ||
| Please | Tolong | For a polite request | ||
| How much is it? | Berapa harganya? | Handy at markets and small shops | ||
| I don't understand | Saya tidak mengerti | Clear signal to switch to English | ||
| Goodbye | Selamat tinggal / Sampai jumpa | Common parting phrase |
Language in Indonesia 2026: Indonesian, Balinese, English
Bahasa Indonesia (Indonesian) is the countryโs single official language, chosen to unify an archipelago with over 700 distinct local languages. In Bali, the destination most visited by Western travelers, English is widely spoken in tourist areas.
A national language against extreme diversity
Bahasa Indonesia was chosen as the unifying national language at independence in 1945, in a country with over 700 distinct local languages spread across its 17,000 islands. This lingua franca, taught throughout the school system, lets Indonesians from very different regions communicate with each other.
Balinese, Baliโs regional language
In Bali, Balinese stays spoken, but mostly in family, ceremonial and religious contexts, tied to the complex Balinese Hindu caste system that still structures part of local social life. Its use is gradually declining among younger generations, schooled mainly in Indonesian and increasingly exposed to English through tourism.
English, widely present in tourist areas
The English level varies sharply by region:
- Bali (Seminyak, Canggu, Ubud, Uluwatu): high level at hotels, restaurants and tourist businesses
- Jakarta and major Java cities: decent level in business and tourist areas, more limited elsewhere
- Less touristy islands (some areas of Sumatra, Sulawesi, Kalimantan): English noticeably rarer outside organized tours
This situation makes Bali a particularly accessible destination for a traveler with only basic English.
A Latin alphabet, no reading barrier
Unlike many Asian destinations (Thailand, Japan, China), Indonesian is written in the Latin alphabet, with no special characters to learn. A Western traveler can therefore read signs, menus and directions without difficulty, even without understanding their meaning.
A relatively accessible grammar
Indonesian is known for its simple grammar compared to many Asian languages: no complex verb conjugation, no grammatical gender, a sentence structure broadly similar to English in its outline. These features make it easy to quickly pick up a few useful basics for a trip, even a short one.
Other practical info Indonesia
- Visa: e-VOA mandatory, 500,000 IDR
- Safety: snatch theft, tainted alcohol
- Currency (Rupiah): cash, cards and exchange scams
- Budget: how much to plan per day
Page written by Marie L., Southeast Asia specialist, editor-in-chief of LโHeure du Voyage. 12 years of experience, regular stays in Indonesia since 2017. Updated: August 5, 2026. Verified by 2 experts.
Sources
FAQ
Can you travel in Bali speaking only English? +
Is Balinese still spoken today? +
Is Indonesian hard to learn for a Western traveler? +
Is English as common in Jakarta and Java as it is in Bali? +
What basic Indonesian phrases are useful for a traveler? +
How many languages are spoken in Indonesia? +
Marie Laurent
Verified authorSoutheast Asia specialist ยท 12 years experience.