Help and emergencies in Indonesian
The words you hope to never need. 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
- Tolong saya!TOH-long SAH-yah
- Help!
- Panggil dokterPAHNG-gil DOK-ter
- Call a doctor
- Polisipoh-LEE-see
- Police
- Apotekah-poh-TEK
- Pharmacy
- Rumah sakitROO-mah sah-KIT
- Hospital
- Saya tersesatsah-YAH ter-seh-SAHT
- I'm lost
- Saya tidak merasa baiksah-YAH tee-DAHK meh-RAH-sah bah-IK
- I don't feel well
- Itu dicuriEE-too dee-KOO-ree
- It was stolen
- Ini daruratEE-nee dah-ROO-rat
- It's an emergency
- Jangan ganggu sayaJAHNG-ahn GAHNG-goo SAH-yah
- Leave me alone
Literally "help me!". The emergency number is 112.
Panggil means to call/summon. Dokter is doctor. The emergency number is 112. Many pharmacies have doctors on staff; asking at a hotel is often faster than calling.
Non-emergency line is 110 or call 112. Police are generally helpful and many speak English. Do not expect rapid response; allow time and patience.
Apotek is the Dutch loanword. Pharmacists speak English and will advise on basic ailments. Many medications over-the-counter in Indonesia cost pennies elsewhere.
Literally "house of sick". Private hospitals are clean and modern, government hospitals less so. Insurance matters; tourist travel insurance is smart.
Sesat means lost/astray. Locals will help instantly and many speak English. Show your destination on your phone; most Indonesians navigate by maps now.
Merasa means to feel. At a pharmacy, point and add "di sini sakit" (it hurts here). Add the English name of the symptom if you know it; English medical terms are used.
Dicuri means was stolen (passive voice). Curi means to steal. File a police report for the insurance. Stick to main areas and use common sense like anywhere.
Literally "don't bother me".