Basic Words

1. Muhun

   Yes

   Usage

   A polite yes for elders, strangers and staff

   Grammar Note

   The polite (lemes) yes; with friends the plain form is Enya

2. Enya

   Yes (casual)

   Usage

   A casual yes for friends and people younger than you

   Grammar Note

   Everyday plain yes; with elders or strangers Muhun is the safer choice

3. Henteu

   No

   Usage

   The basic no, for answering a question or turning down an offer

   Grammar Note

   Negates verbs and adjectives (short form: teu); to negate a noun use sanés

4. Sanés

   No, it is not

   Usage

   Use it to say "no, it is not" to a question such as "is this …?"

   Grammar Note

   The polite word for "is not" before a noun; the plain form is lain

5. Mangga

   Please, go ahead

   Usage

   Used to offer something or invite someone, and to accept an offer ("yes, please")

   Grammar Note

   It is not a request marker: start a request with Punten. It is spelled like the fruit "mango"

6. Hatur nuhun

   Thank you

   Usage

   A polite thank-you for elders, strangers and staff

   Grammar Note

   With friends use the short Nuhun; to stress it say Hatur nuhun pisan

7. Nuhun

   Thanks

   Usage

   Casual thanks to friends and juniors

   Grammar Note

   Hatur nuhun without hatur; do not use it with elders

8. Sami-sami

   You're welcome

   Usage

   The usual reply when someone thanks you

   Grammar Note

   Literally "the same to you"; the usual reply to Hatur nuhun

9. Punten

   Excuse me

   Usage

   Used when passing in front of someone, getting attention or a light apology

   Grammar Note

   Also called out at someone's door; for a heavier apology use Hapunten

10. Hapunten

    I'm sorry

    Usage

    A polite apology for a mistake or a slight

    Grammar Note

    Heavier than Punten; Hampura is a related word meaning "forgive me"

11. Teu nanaon

    It's OK

    Usage

    The reply to an apology, or a way to say "I'm fine"

    Grammar Note

    teu (not) + nanaon (anything) gives "nothing is wrong"

12. Abdi teu ngartos.

    I don't understand.

    Usage

    Say it when you do not follow what was said

    Grammar Note

    Polite form; among friends it becomes Kuring teu ngarti

13. Abdi ngartos.

    I understand.

    Usage

    Tell the other person you have understood

    Grammar Note

    The affirmative of Abdi teu ngartos; just drop teu

14. Parantos réngsé.

    I'm finished.

    Usage

    Say it when a meal or a procedure is done

    Grammar Note

    Parantos is the polite "already"; the plain form is geus

15. Mangga ngantosan sakedap.

    Please wait a moment.

    Usage

    Use it to ask someone to wait a short while

    Grammar Note

    Ngantosan is the polite "wait" for the other person's action

16. Sakedap

    Just a moment

    Usage

    A short way to ask for a moment

    Grammar Note

    Means "a short while"; sakeudeung is a more casual variant

17. Déwasa hiji.

    One adult.

    Usage

    Tell the ticket seller how many tickets you want

    Grammar Note

    The number follows the noun; for two say Déwasa dua

18. Abdi teu gaduh reservasi.

    I don't have a reservation.

    Usage

    Tell the hotel or restaurant you have not booked

    Grammar Note

    Gaduh is the polite "have"; reservasi is a loan from Indonesian

19. Abdi gaduh reservasi.

    I have a reservation.

    Usage

    Tell the hotel or restaurant you have already booked

    Grammar Note

    The affirmative of the previous sentence, without teu

20. Punten, tiasa ngabantosan abdi?

    Excuse me, could you help me?

    Usage

    A polite way to ask for help when you are stuck

    Grammar Note

    Raise the tone for a question; in an emergency just shout Tulung!

21. Punten, mangga diulang deui.

    Excuse me, once more please.

    Usage

    Ask someone to repeat what you did not catch

    Grammar Note

    Diulang is the passive of ulang (repeat); deui means "again"

22. Punten, mangga nyarios lalaunan.

    Excuse me, please speak slowly.

    Usage

    Ask the speaker to slow down

    Grammar Note

    Nyarios is the polite verb for the other person speaking; lalaunan is a reduplicated form of laun

23. Abdi tiasa nyarios basa Sunda sakedik.

    I speak a little Sundanese.

    Usage

    Saying you speak a little of the language warms up a conversation

    Grammar Note

    Basa means "language" (basa Inggris = English); sakedik is "a little", plainly saeutik

24. Anjeun tiasa nyarios basa Inggris?

    Do you speak English?

    Usage

    Check whether English works before asking for help

    Grammar Note

    With an older person you can say Bapa or Ibu instead of anjeun to be more polite

25. Ieu

    This

    Usage

    Point at something near you and say it

    Grammar Note

    The demonstrative for "this", as in Ieu naon? (what is this?)

26. Éta

    That

    Usage

    Point at something away from you or near the other person

    Grammar Note

    The demonstrative for "that"; use ieu for things near you

27. Di dieu

    Here

    Usage

    Refers to the place where you are

    Grammar Note

    Write di as a separate word, not didieu

28. Di dinya

    There (near you)

    Usage

    Refers to a place near the person you are speaking to

    Grammar Note

    Write di separately; dinya points to the listener's side

29. Di ditu

    Over there

    Usage

    Refers to a place far from both of you

    Grammar Note

    Write di separately; ditu is far from both speaker and listener

30. Abdi

    I / me

    Usage

    "I" when speaking to strangers and elders

    Grammar Note

    The polite first person; kuring or urang are casual, and aing is rude

31. Anjeun

    You

    Usage

    A polite "you"

    Grammar Note

    A safe polite "you"; for elders Bapa or Ibu sounds more natural, and manéh or sia are rude

32. Babarengan

    Together

    Usage

    Say that you do something together

    Grammar Note

    A reduplicated form of bareng ("with"), often used for several people

33. Hiji jalma

    One person

    Usage

    Use it to give a head count, for instance when asking for a table

    Grammar Note

    Put jalma (person) after the number to count people

34. Dua jalma

    Two people

    Usage

    How to state a group of two

    Grammar Note

    Jalma does not change; the number alone shows the plural

35. Tilu jalma

    Three people

    Usage

    How to state a group of three

    Grammar Note

    The numbers run hiji, dua, tilu, opat, lima

Browse all TravelPhrases languages