Getting around in Indonesian
Left, right, the station, one ticket, where is the toilet. Play the ten Indonesian words against the clock, with a note on how locals really use each one after every answer. All ten are written out below.
All 10 Indonesian phrases in this lesson
- Di mana kamar kecil?dee MAH-nah KAH-mar KEH-chil
- Where is the toilet?
- Bagaimana ke...?bah-gai-MAH-nah keh
- How do I get to...?
- Ke kirikeh KEE-ree
- To the left
- Ke kanankeh KAH-nahn
- To the right
- LurusLOO-roos
- Straight ahead
- Di sinidee SEE-nee
- Here
- Stasiunstah-see-OON
- Train station
- BusBOOS
- Bus
- Bandarabahn-DAH-rah
- Airport
- Satu karcis, tolongsah-TOO KAR-sis TOH-long
- One ticket, please
Kamar kecil (literally small room) is the polite term. Also WC or toilet work, as do the blunter "kakus" or "jamban". Most toilets charge 2,000-5,000 Rp and have a bucket and dipper.
Lurus means straight. Terus (continue) is also used. Indonesian is a language of clear paths; lurus gets you there.
Di is the location marker, sini means here. "Turun di sini" (get down here) works for telling a driver where to stop.
Stasiun kereta (train station). Indonesian trains are clean, punctual, and cheap. Booking in advance is smart for long routes. Conductors are helpful.
Bus is the same word as English. Most cities have a mix of AC and non-AC buses; AC costs more. Drivers and conductors are friendly and will help foreigners find the right one.
Karcis is the ticket. Tujuan (destination) comes next. Bus and train staff are used to foreign travelers; show them where you are going on your phone.