Adjectives
Gelem
Sick
Not yet verified by native speakers
Leleh
Tired
Not yet verified by native speakers
Sibuk
Busy
Not yet verified by native speakers
Wawu
wah-woo
Just / Just now
"Tiang wawu bangun" / I just woke up
Bedik
beh-deek
slightly / small / few
"Tiang punyah bedik" / I'm a little drunk
Punyah
poon-yuh
Drunk
"Tiang punyah bedik" / I'm a little drunk
Colors
Barak
Red
Not yet verified by native speakers
Putin
White
Not yet verified by native speakers
Biru
Blue
Not yet verified by native speakers
Kuning
Yellow
Not yet verified by native speakers
Selem
Black
Not yet verified by native speakers
Conjunctions
Karena
Because
Not yet verified by native speakers
Tapi
But / even though / although
Not yet verified by native speakers
Jadi
So
Not yet verified by native speakers
Terus
And then
Not yet verified by native speakers
Nto mekade
That's why
Not yet verified by native speakers
Greetings
Ken ken kabare?
ken ken chah BAH-reh
How are you?
Casual — used with friends
Punapi gatré?
poo-NAH-pee gah-TRÉ
How are you?
Formal — used with elders or in polite company. The TRE is rolled and sounds more like “trah” in practice. Jay writes it like “punapi gatra” when texting
Becik becik
BEH-chik BEH-chik
Good good
A: "ken ken cah bare?"
(how are you?)
B: "becik becik"
(good good)
B: "becik becik"
(good good)
You may also say "Becik pisan" (BEH-chik PEE-sawn) which means 'very good'. Eg;
A: Panapi gatré, bli?
(how are you, brother?)
B: Tiang becik pisan, suksma. Ragane gen punapi gatré?
(I'm very good, thank you. And how are you?)
Tiang keseng dikit
tee-YAHNG kuh-SEHNG DEE-kit
I’m a bit tired
Polite and honest reply
Not yet verified by native speakers
Alon alon kemanten
ah-LONE ah-LONE kuh-MAHN-ten
Just taking it easy
Colloquial — like “ I'm chillin'"
Not yet verified by native speakers
Rahajeng turu
rah-hah-jeng too-roo
Sleep well
Softer and more personal than “rahajeng wengi”; used with friends or family
Not yet verified by native speakers
Rahajeng malih
rah-hah-jeng mah-leeh
Goodbye / Come again
Said to someone leaving
Not yet verified by native speakers
Rahajeng rahina
rah-hah-jeng rah-hee-nah
Good day
General good wish, often used in polite speech or writing
Not yet verified by native speakers
Swastiastu
swas-tee-as-too
Hello / May you be blessed
Use anytime, to anyone. Most polite and universal greeting — also when entering homes or temples
Rahajeng semeng
rah-hah-jeng seh-mung
Good morning
Used from sunrise until ~10 a.m. Friendly and respectful
Rahajeng siang
rah-hah-jeng see-ahng
Good afternoon
Used between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Neutral and polite
Rahajeng wengi
rah-hah-jeng wun-gih
Good evening / Good night
Used after sunset or before bed
Rahajeng rauh
rah-hah-jeng rah-ooh
Welcome / Blessed arrival
Said to guests or anyone arriving. I think* its more common at ceremonies / formal context
Not yet verified by native speakers
Location
Ne
This
Not yet verified by native speakers
Nto
That
Not yet verified by native speakers
Ane
This one
Not yet verified by native speakers
Ane cen
Which one
Not yet verified by native speakers
Mai
Come here
Not yet verified by native speakers
Kemu
Over there
Not yet verified by native speakers
Dini
Here
Not yet verified by native speakers
Ditu
There
Not yet verified by native speakers
Beduur
On / above
Not yet verified by native speakers
Beten
Under
Not yet verified by native speakers
Di tengah
Inside / in
Not yet verified by native speakers
Di sisi
Outside
Not yet verified by native speakers
Uli
From
Not yet verified by native speakers
Ke
To
Not yet verified by native speakers
Konden
Not yet
Not yet verified by native speakers
Sube
Already
Not yet verified by native speakers
Other
Ampura
am-poo-ruh
I’m sorry
i think the r is supposed to be rolled
Suksma
sook-suh-muh
Thank you
If you're going to learn one word, this is the one to know
Matur Suksma
mah-tur sook-suh-muh
Thank you
A more polite / elevated expression of gratitude
Mewali / Suksma mewali
muh-wall-ee
You're welcome / To return
The most common response to Suksma
Sing
sing
No
casual way to say no
Nenten
nen-ten
No
polite way to say no (high register). Not commonly used. I think only for talking to holymen
ten
ten
No / not
Another lower register form of "No". Seems more commonly used than Sing for negation (eg; "ten lakar" / won't)
Nggih
en-gee
yes / okay
A very common interjection used to show agreement or akcnowledge something. Not sure on pronunciation.
Phrases
Tiang Lakar
tee-ang luh-car
I want / I will (present tense)...
Used to express a present tense intention or desire. "Tiang lakar ke villa" / I'm going to the villa
Tiang jagi
tee-ang juh-gee
I shall / I will (future tense)...
"Jagi" expresses future tense / intention. "Tiang jagi ke villa peteng ne" / I will go to the villa later tonight
Tiang Harus
I must...
Indonesian borrowed word
Dadi Tiang
Can I...?
Not yet verified by native speakers
Ragane dadi...
You can...
Not yet verified by native speakers
Sing Ken Ken
Sing Ken Ken
No problem / no worries
Very laid back / chill way to say "no problem"
Pronouns
Tiang
tee-YAHNG
I / me
Polite, humble first-person pronoun (Alus mider); used in respectful conversation
Cang
chahng
I / me
Casual/informal; used among close friends or equals. Can be considered impolite
Rage
I / me
Alternative first-person pronoun
Not yet verified by native speakers
Ragané
rah-GAH-neh
You
Formal or neutral 2nd person; respectful, used in polite conversation
Beli
BUH-lee
You (male)
Not to be confused with BOO-lay... :D
Adi
AH-dee
You (female)
Informal; used among female peers or to someone younger; literally means "younger sibling"
Ipun
ee-POON
He / she / him / her
High-register pronoun; used to refer to others respectfully
Ipun sami
ee-POON SAH-mee
They
Polite third-person plural; respectful and formal
Ye
She / he / they
Common third-person pronoun
Not yet verified by native speakers
Bule
BOO-lay
foreigner / white person
Questions
Api
What
Not yet verified by native speakers
Pidan
When
Not yet verified by native speakers
Nyen
Who
Not yet verified by native speakers
Kenape
Why
Not yet verified by native speakers
Ken ken
How
Seems interchangeable as a greeting "how are you?" vs. "Ken ken Cabahre"
Not yet verified by native speakers
Time
Ibi
Yesterday
Not yet verified by native speakers
Mani
Tomorrow
Not yet verified by native speakers
Jani
Now
Not yet verified by native speakers
Mare san
Just now
Not yet verified by native speakers
Tuni
Last morning / last afternoon
Not yet verified by native speakers
Verbs
Teke
Come
Not yet verified by native speakers
Makan
Eat
Not yet verified by native speakers
Inem / Minum [indonesian]
ee-num
To drink
Not yet verified by native speakers
Negak
Sit
Not yet verified by native speakers
Nvemak
Take
Usage uncertain
Not yet verified by native speakers
Ngabe
Bring
Not yet verified by native speakers
Mejalan
Walk
Not yet verified by native speakers
Melaib
Run
Not yet verified by native speakers
Ntungang
Throw
Not yet verified by native speakers
Santai
Relax
Not yet verified by native speakers
Mesare
Sleep
Not yet verified by native speakers
Megae
Work
Not yet verified by native speakers
Pesu
Go outside
Not yet verified by native speakers
Kayeh
Take bath
Not yet verified by native speakers
Melangi
Swim
Not yet verified by native speakers
Meli
Buy
Not yet verified by native speakers
Masak
Cook
Not yet verified by native speakers
Ngae
Make
Not yet verified by native speakers
Mulih
Go home
Not yet verified by native speakers
Jagi
jah-gee
will / shall (future marker)
indicates a future action or intention in a polite, formal context. "Tiang jagi mewali" / I will return
