Balinese is the local language spoken in Bali, Indonesia and rarely in parts of Lombok and East Java.

It is a very tough language for non-Balinese to master, and while related to Indonesian, is not mutually intelligible with it. You are unlikely to need to learn Balinese, as virtually every Balinese speaker is also able to speak Indonesian, and many can even manage some English. That being said, attempting to communicate in Balinese would almost certainly please the locals.

The language has three main registers depending on the status of those speaking:

• low (basa ketah)
• middle (basa madia)
• high (basa singgih)

This phrasebook will cover the low register only as that is the language spoken by the vast majority of Balinese, and the only one likely to be encountered by visitors.

Pronunciation guide

Vowels

	Front	Central	Back
High	(IPA: i)		(IPA: u)
Mid	(IPA: e)	(IPA: ə)	(IPA: o)
Low		(IPA: a)

The official spelling denotes both (IPA: /a/) and (IPA: /ə/) by a. However, a is usually pronounced (IPA: [ə]) when it ends a word, and (IPA: [ə]) occurs also in prefixes ma-, pa- and da-.

Consonants

	Labial		Dental		Palatal		Velar		Glottal
Plosive	p	b	t	d	c	ɟ	k	ɡ
Nasal	m		n		ɲ		ŋ
Fricative			s						h
Trill			r
Lateral			l
Approximant	w				j

Phrase list

Some phrases in this phrasebook still need to be translated. If you know anything about this language, you can help by plunging forward and translating a phrase.

Basics

Hello.

. ( )

Hello. (informal)

. ( )

How are you?

(Engken kabare?) (Sapunapi gatra?) (ken ken kabare?)

Fine, thank you.

. (Iyang becik-becik kewanten.)

What is your name?

(Sira pesengen ragane?)

My name is ______

(Tiang_____ .)

Nice to meet you.

. ( )

Please.

. ( )

Thank you.

. (Matur suksma.)

You're welcome.

. (suksma mewali )

Yes.

. (Inggih. Patut.)

No.

. (Tan. Nente)

Excuse me. (getting attention)

. ( )

Excuse me. (begging pardon)

. ( )

I'm sorry.

. ( )

Goodbye

. ( )

Goodbye (informal)

. ( )

I can't speak name of language [well].

[ ]. ( [ ])

Do you speak English?

(Bapa bisa basa Angrit??)

Is there someone here who speaks English?

? ( ?)

Help!

! ( !)

Look out!

! ( !)

Good morning.

. (Rahajeng semeng.)

Good afternoon.

. (Rahajeng sanja.)

Good evening.

. (Rahajeng peteng.)

Good night.

. (Rahajeng Wengi.)

Good night (to sleep)

. ( )

I don't understand.

. ( )

Where is the toilet?

? ( ?)

Where is... ...

(Ring dija?)

What is that?

(Napi punika?)

Are you already married?

(Bapa suba makurenan?)

I just came from Ubud

(Tiang mara teka uli Ubud.)

Numbers

½ = sathang

0 = kosun

1 = set

2 = duu

3 = tigi

4 = empaat

5 = lina

6 = enem

7 = tujeh

8 = lapane

9 = bilane

10 = pulah

11 = belasuh

12 = duu belasuh

13 = tigu belasuh

14 = empaatu belasuh

15 = linu belasuh

20 = duu phulah

21 = duu phulahu set

30 = tigi phulah

40 = empaat phulah

50 = lina phulah

100 = raatus

200 = duu rahatus

1000 = riba

2000 = duu rhiba

10000 = pulah rhiba

Time

Days

Sunday: Monday: Tuesday: Wednesday: Thursday: Friday: Saturday:

Transportation

I want to go to airport. (Tiang lakar ka airport.)

Eating

Restaurant (')

Have you eaten (polite)

Sampun ngajeng?

Which dishes are they?

Ajengan napi sane wenten?

Do you have native Balinese dishes?

Ada ajengan Bali ane tulen?

Do you have pineapple?

Wenten manas?

Delicious

Jaen

Bars

Digek - pretty

Shopping

How much is this/that ? (Ajikuda niki/nika?)