All Balinese speak Bahasa Bali (also known as Basa Bali), the native language of the island. Though Bahasa Indonesia is the common language of whole Indonesia, there are (mostly elder) Balinese who haven’t learned it at all.

Bahasa Bali is very difficult. For one, it is totally different then Bahasa Indonesia, and two; there are many variations in the language itself.

The Balinese language has three main variations; high Balinese (Ida), middle / polite (ipun) Balinese and low Balinese (la). The hard part in the Balinese language is also that these variations are totally different from each other. When the Balinese approach each other, they mostly start off in middle Balinese, to find out from what caste they are. When someone of a high caste speaks to someone with a low caste, they usually ‘talk down’. The one from the lower caste will try to answer in higher Balinese. The Balinese often try to find out the name of the other person first, because names are bounded to caste.

Balinese is an Austronesian language and the alphabet is descended from the Brahmi script. It is still used these days but there are not so many native Balinese familiar with it. The Balinese alphabet (Carakan) is still used for religious works.

Now as a tourist you will be fine with (the basics of) English because in the areas where you will be hanging around, the Balinese have learned to communicate with you (and of course to sell you their services or products). But, it can be really fun to throw in some Balinese words in the middle of the conversation. The Balinese are often surprised of your respond and begin to laugh. So basically, if you want to learn some Balinese, it is only to get some respect and sometimes it makes it easier to get what you want. For instance, when you’re shopping around and you’ll have to bargain, the prices are dropping faster if you joke around in Bahasa Bali, because they will think that you’ve been around Bali for long.

Some easy words in Bahasa Bali;

Thank you - Matur suksema
How are you? – Ken ken kabare
Don’t worry about it – Sing ken ken
No – Sing
Huh? – Nuppy?

More soon…