Basic Nouns

28 phrases · Balinese with romanization, English and audio

  1. Yeh

    Water

    Usage

    The everyday word for water (andap). Toya is the alus form but also means holy water.

    Grammar Note

    yeh is also used as an interjection of surprise.

  2. Ajengan

    Food

    Usage

    A general word for food or cooked rice; the dictionary says it suits most occasions except when referring to a Brahmana.

    Grammar Note

    The root is ajeng (to eat).

  3. Jinah

    Money

    Usage

    The polite word for money. The casual form is Pipis.

    Grammar Note

    The alus mider counterpart of pipis (andap) in the dictionary's level table.

  4. Pipis

    Money (casual)

    Usage

    Used among friends; use Jinah with people you do not know.

    Grammar Note

    An andap word.

  5. Kakus

    Toilet

    Usage

    The dictionary word for toilet; Indonesian toilet is also widely used.

    Grammar Note

    The dictionary gives no speech-level variants.

  6. Tisu

    Tissue

    Usage

    Tissue paper. The dictionary has a headword but no gloss; it is the same loanword as in Indonesian.

    Grammar Note

    A loanword.

  7. Ubad

    Medicine

    Usage

    Medicine or remedy. The dictionary lists ubad for andap and kasar and tamba for alus singgih.

    Grammar Note

    Use ubad for your own medicine; tamba is the honorific for the other person.

  8. Koper

    Suitcase

    Usage

    A suitcase or briefcase; the same loanword as in Indonesian.

    Grammar Note

    A loanword.

  9. Karcis

    Ticket

    Usage

    A ticket for entry, transport or parking; the dictionary has a headword with a Balinese gloss.

    Grammar Note

    A loanword.

  10. Polisi

    Police

    Usage

    Police or a police officer; the same loanword as in Indonesian.

    Grammar Note

    A loanword.

  11. Warung

    Small shop / eatery

    Usage

    A small shop or eatery; the dictionary marks it as the same at every speech level.

    Grammar Note

    Same form as in Indonesian.

  12. Toko

    Shop

    Usage

    A shop in a permanent building; the same loanword as in Indonesian.

    Grammar Note

    A loanword.

  13. Kamar

    Room

    Usage

    A room; the same loanword as in Indonesian, also used for hotel rooms.

    Grammar Note

    A loanword.

  14. Margi

    Road

    Usage

    A road; this is the polite word, and casual forms are Marga, Jalan and Rurung.

    Grammar Note

    Marked alus mider in the dictionary.

  15. Kulawarga

    Family

    Usage

    Family; the dictionary gives no speech-level variants.

    Grammar Note

    Corresponds to Indonesian keluarga.

  16. Adan

    Name

    Usage

    The casual word for name. Use Wastan for your own name and Pesengan for someone else's.

    Grammar Note

    Andap in the dictionary's level table.

  17. Sirah

    Head

    Usage

    The polite word for your own head; useful when describing symptoms.

    Grammar Note

    Alus sor in the level table. The other person's head takes a different word (such as ulu), so do not apply sirah to them.

  18. Mata

    Eye

    Usage

    The eye, an andap word for your own body. The honorific netra is for the other person.

    Grammar Note

    No gloss in the dictionary, but it is listed under andap in the level table.

  19. Gigi

    Tooth

    Usage

    The tooth (andap). The honorific untu is for the other person.

    Grammar Note

    Andap in the dictionary.

  20. Basang

    Stomach / belly

    Usage

    The belly (andap). The other person's takes the honorific waduk or weteng.

    Grammar Note

    basang also means the inner part of a bamboo culm.

  21. Lima

    Hand

    Usage

    The hand; spelled like the number five. Use lima for your own hand and tangan for the other person's.

    Grammar Note

    The dictionary gives both 'hand or forearm' and 'five'.

  22. Lengen

    Arm

    Usage

    The arm; Balinese does not distinguish upper and lower arm.

    Grammar Note

    Andap in the dictionary.

  23. Jeriji

    Finger

    Usage

    A finger; the dictionary lists the same word for ordinary use.

    Grammar Note

    The honorific form is angrakara.

  24. Batis

    Leg / foot

    Usage

    The foot or leg (andap). cokor is the honorific for the other person's foot; never use it for yourself.

    Grammar Note

    The level table lists batis and bais for andap.

  25. Cunguh

    Nose

    Usage

    The nose (andap). The other person's nose is irung or grana.

    Grammar Note

    Andap in the dictionary.

  26. Kuping

    Ear

    Usage

    The ear (andap). The other person's ear is karna.

    Grammar Note

    Andap in the dictionary.

  27. Tangkah

    Chest

    Usage

    The chest (andap). The other person's chest is dada or wijang.

    Grammar Note

    Andap in the dictionary's level table.

  28. Kulit

    Skin

    Usage

    Skin; the dictionary also gives rind, bark and leather.

    Grammar Note

    Same form as in Indonesian.

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