visiting the traditional villages of Ngada, a top thing to do in flores

Do They Speak English In Indonesia? In Bali? (+Helpful Phrases Before You Go)

Nomadicated Disclaimer

Traveling to Indonesia and wondering if they speak English? Although it’s nerve-wracking to travel somewhere where you don’t know the language, that shouldn’t stop you from going to Indonesia. Many people in the main tourist areas of Indonesia speak at least basic English skills. And even if they don’t, Google Translate will come to the rescue. 

I’ve spent more than 3 months traveling across six provinces covering well over a dozen inhabited islands. So I have a good gauge on the local English skills from east to west. And the English language level in Indonesia is definitely not the same across the board. 

It can be daunting if you don’t speak the language of the country you’re visiting. However, it pays to learn a few basics before you go and find other measures to overcome the language barrier. Here’s a quick guide to the English language in Indonesia to help prepare you for your trip!

sunrise at mount bromo, one of the nost famous landmarks and things to do in indonesia
Mt. Bromo Sunrise on Java

Do They Speak English in Indonesia? 

If you were to account for all 275 million people, then no, most locals do not speak English in Indonesia.

However, you will find that most people you come into contact with while traveling are in the travel or hospitality industry or in larger cities, where English is spoken much more frequently.

How many people in Indonesia know English?

Although it’s difficult to pinpoint an accurate number, estimates place the percentage of English speakers around 10% of Indonesia’s population. 

And while we have yet to determine a definite answer to how many people that is, due to rising tourism, the country has taken measures to improve its citizens’ proficiency in English. In schools around the country, English is taught as part of the formal education system.

tanjung aan beach with bukit merese background, where they do speak english


what language
s do they speak in Indonesia?

According to the 2010 census, there are approximately 700 to 800 languages spoken in Indonesia, making the country one of the most linguistically diverse countries in the world.

visiting the traditional villages of Ngada, flores where locals do not speak much english

Bahasa Indonesia (Official Language)

Indonesian (also called Bahasa Indonesia) is the official language of Indonesia, spoken by over 94% of the population. You’ll find that Indonesian and Malaysian are very similar languages, as they have a common origin. However, many people in local communities primarily speak their native mother tongue or dialect to one another.

Dutch

This one may surprise you if you don’t know Indonesia’s rich history, but the Netherlands colonized Indonesia for centuries up until 1949. This explains why Dutch is still spoken, especially by the older generations or those in the law profession.

Javanese

Although regional languages are not recognized officially, Indonesia’s most widely spoken language after Indonesian is Javanese. Javanese is the largest Austronesian language in terms of native speakers and has a number of regional dialects and distinct status styles.

Concentrating on the Java islands, it was estimated that Javanese is used daily in 43% of Indonesian households, with over 60 million speakers.

Balinese

In Bali, you’ll notice that everyone speaks Balinese, which is entirely different from Indonesian. However, the locals will usually be bilingual and able to switch between both languages if you speak Indonesian or English.


English Language In Indonesia

Though English is commonly spoken in areas popular with tourists, it is less prevalent than in other countries near Indonesia, like Thailand, Malaysia or Singapore. If your travel plans include major tourist destinations such as Bali, Yogyakarta on Java, and the Lombok beaches, you shouldn’t have trouble communicating with locals.

borobudur temple in java, where English is widely spoken

Do They Speak English in Bali, Indonesia?

Given its popularity, the chances are high that Bali is on your Indonesian itinerary. With so many tourists visiting its famous landmarks and beaches, it comes as no surprise that English is widely spoken in Bali.

Even though you might still have some trouble communicating with people who live in more rural areas of East and North Bali, you’ll never be completely lost for words.

Most hotels, tourist attractions, and restaurants have staff fluent in English, and you’ll never have a problem asking for directions or ordering food.

Tagallalang Rice Terrace Fields in an east bali itinerary

Do I Need to Speak Indonesian to Travel to Indonesia?

No, you don’t need to speak Indonesian in order to travel around the country. Heck, after spending 3+ months there, I can barely say more than a dozen phrases.

No longer do people lug around dictionaries to assist in translation; we have Google Translate for that now. If gestures alone aren’t working, pre-download the Bahasa language on Google Translate or get an Indonesian SIM card.

With an internet connection, you can use Google Translate’s instant text translation feature by aiming your camera at the words you want to translate. Additionally, there is even a microphone button for people who would rather speak and get an immediate translation! Technology is amazing these days!

selfie spot in hidden hills wanagiri, north bali

Basic Indonesian Phrases To Use On Your Travels

However, if you want to make the locals smile and show your appreciation for their culture, learning a few key phrases goes a long way.

Is Indonesian easy for English Speakers?

Indonesian is actually a relatively easy language to learn the foundations of. It shares the same alphabet as English, and the grammatical structure is nearly identical. On top of that, Indonesian has no tense conjugations or tenses. They say some prefixes and suffixes or indicate time in every sentence.

The pronunciation might be the most complicated element, as they seldom emphasize the word where you would anticipate it to be.

sembulan mountains in rural Lombok, where the english language in Indonesia is not very proficient

Essential Indonesian Phrases

Below are some general Indonesian words and basic phrases that could come in handy during your travels:

  • Hello, How are you? – Hai, apa kabar?
  • All Fine – Baik, Baik Saja
  • Good Morning! – Selamat Pagi!
  • Good Afternoon! – Selamat Siang!
  • Good Evening! – Selamat Sore!
  • Good Night! – Selamat Malam!
  • No – Tidak
  • Yes – Ya
  • Thank you – Terima Kasih
  • How much (does it cost?) – Berapa Harganya
  • Excuse me – Persmisi
  • I don’t understand – saya tidak mengerti
  • No Spicy – Tidak Pedas (I can’t eat spicy food at all, so this one was a must for me.
  • No Sugar – Tidak Gula (In Indonesia, most drinks come with sugar unless otherwise asked)

Wrap-Up: Do They Speak English in Indonesia?

In a nutshell, while you don’t need to be fluent in Indonesian to travel around the country, knowing some key phrases will make your trip that much more enjoyable. Most people in tourist areas like
Lombok
and Bali will speak at least a basic level of English, but if you’re traveling to more rural areas like Flores, Sulawesi, or Sumatra, you shouldn’t expect as many people to be able to converse with strong English proficiency.

However, with a downloaded Google Translate or an internet connection, you’ll be able to get by just fine. Indonesia has seen its fair share of tourism, and most people are patient and kind enough to help you out with whatever you need.