Minangkabau phrasebook

Minangkabau or simply Minang (known natively as Bahaso Minangkabau or Bahaso Minangkabo) is a language spoken predominantly by the Minangkabau people in their ancestral home of West Sumatra and other places within Sumatra and beyond where Minangkabau people have moved.

Pronunciation guide

Vowels

Consonants

Common diphthongs

Phrase list

Basics

Hello!: Apo kaba!
How are you?: Ba'a kaba ang? (to male) / Ba'a kaba kau? (to female).
I'm well: Ambo ...
What is your name?: Sapo namo ang? (to male) / Sapo namo kau? (to female). Sapo sometimes is shortened to Sia, e.g. Sia namo kau
My name is ______: Namo ambo ______
Please: Toloang (asking for help) / Silakan (politely letting people/guest do something first)
Thank you: Tarimo kasih
You're welcome (in response to 'thank you'): Samo-samo
Yes: Iyo, Yo
No: Indak, Ndak
Excuse me: Maaf
I'm sorry: Ambo mintak maaf
I can't speak Minangkau [well]: Ambo indak bisa mangecek bahaso Minangkabau [dangan baiak]
Do you speak English?: Bisa mangecek bahaso Inggris ang/kau?
Is there someone here who speaks English?: Siko ado nan bisa mangecek bahaso Inggris?
Help!: Toloang!
Look out!: Awas!
Good evening: Salamaik patang
Good night: Salamaik malam
I don't understand: Ambo indak paham
Where is the toilet?: Dima yo toilet?
Where are you from?: Dari mano ang/kau barasa? or Dari ma ang/kau barasa?

Note:

The use of ang is considered rude if used between strangers. You can omit ang and just say Ba'a kaba?, or change it to pak (sir) atau bu (maam). For older person you can substitute ang with uda (older brother) and kau with uni (older sister). For younger person you can substitute ang and kau with adiak or diak (applied for both little brother or little sister).

Problems

Leave me alone.: . ( .)
Don't touch me!: ! ( !)
I'll call the police.: . ( .)
Police!: ! ( !)
Stop! Thief!: ! ! ( ! !)
I need your help.: . ( .)
It's an emergency.: . ( .)
I'm lost.: . ( .)
I lost my bag.: . ( .)
I lost my wallet.: . ( .)
I'm sick.: . ( .)
I've been injured.: . ( .)
I need a doctor.: . ( .)
Can I use your phone?: ? ( ?)

Numbers

1: (ciek)
2: (duo)
3: (tigo)
4: (ampek)
5: (limo)
6: (anam)
7: (tujuah)
8: (dalapan)
9: (salapan)
10: (sapuluah)
11: (sabaleh)
12: (duo baleh)
13: (tigo baleh)
14: (ampek baleh)
15: (limo baleh)
16: (anam baleh)
17: (tujuah baleh)
18: (dalapan baleh)
19: (salapan baleh)
20: (duo puluah)
21: (duo puluah satu)
22: (duo puluah duo)
23: (duo puluah tigo)
30: (tigo puluah)
40: (ampek puluah)
50: (limo puluah)
60: (anam puluah)
70: (tujuah puluah)
80: (dalapan puluah)
90: (salapan puluah)
100: (saratuih)
200: (duo ratuih)
300: (tigo ratuih)
1,000: (saribu)
2,000: (duo ribu)
1,000,000: (sajuto)
1,000,000,000: (samilyar)
1,000,000,000,000: (satrilyun)
number _____ (train, bus, etc.): (nomor)
half: (satangah)
less: (kurang)
more: (labiah)

Time

now: ( )
later: ( )
before: ( )
morning: ( )
afternoon: ( )
evening: ( )
night: ( )

Clock time

one o'clock AM: ( )
two o'clock AM: ( )
noon: ( )
one o'clock PM: ( )
two o'clock PM: ( )
midnight: ( )

Duration

_____ minute(s): ( )
_____ hour(s): ( )
_____ day(s): ( )
_____ week(s): ( )
_____ month(s): ( )
_____ year(s): ( )

Days

today: ( )
yesterday: ( )
tomorrow: ( )
this week: ( )
last week: ( )
next week: ( )

Sunday: ( )
Monday: ( )
Tuesday: ( )
Wednesday: ( )
Thursday: ( )
Friday: ( )
Saturday: ( )

Months

January: ( )
February: ( )
March: ( )
April: ( )
May: ( )
June: ( )
July: ( )
August: ( )
September: ( )
October: ( )
November: ( )
December: ( )

Writing time and date

Colors

black: ( )
white: ( )
gray: ( )
red: ( )
blue: ( )
yellow: ( )
green: ( )
orange: ( )
purple: ( )
brown: ( )

Transportation

Bus and train

How much is a ticket to _____?: ( )
One ticket to _____, please.: ( )
Where does this train/bus go?: ( )
Where is the train/bus to _____?: ( )
Does this train/bus stop in _____?: ( )
When does the train/bus for _____ leave?: ( )
When will this train/bus arrive in _____?: ( )

Directions

How do I get to _____ ?: ( )
...the train station?: ( )
...the bus station?: ( )
...the airport?: ( )
...downtown?: ( )
...the youth hostel?: ( )
...the _____ hotel?: ( )
...the American/Canadian/Australian/British consulate?: ( )
Where are there a lot of...: ( )
...hotels?: ( )
...restaurants?: ( )
...bars?: ( )
...sites to see?: ( )
Can you show me on the map?: ( )
street: ( )
Turn left.: ( )
Turn right.: ( )
left: ( )
right: ( )
straight ahead: ( )
towards the _____: ( )
past the _____: ( )
before the _____: ( )
Watch for the _____.: ( )
intersection: ( )
north: ( )
south: ( )
east: ( )
west: ( )
uphill: ( )
downhill: ( )

Taxi

Taxi!: ( )
Take me to _____, please.: ( )
How much does it cost to get to _____?: ( )
Take me there, please.: ( )

Lodging

Do you have any rooms available?: ( )
How much is a room for one person/two people?: ( )
Does the room come with...: ( )
...bedsheets?: ( )
...a bathroom?: ( )
...a telephone?: ( )
...a TV?: ( )
May I see the room first?: ( )
Do you have anything quieter?: ( )
...bigger?: ( )
...cleaner?: ( )
...cheaper?: ( )
OK, I'll take it.: ( )
I will stay for _____ night(s).: ( )
Can you suggest another hotel?: ( )
Do you have a safe?: ( )
...lockers?: ( )
Is breakfast/supper included?: ( )
What time is breakfast/supper?: ( )
Please clean my room.: ( )
Can you wake me at _____?: ( )
I want to check out.: ( )

Money

Do you accept American/Australian/Canadian dollars?: ( )
Do you accept British pounds?: ( )
Do you accept Euros?: ( )
Do you accept credit cards?: ( )
Can you change money for me?: ( )
Where can I get money changed?: ( )
Can you change a traveler's check for me?: ( )
Where can I get a traveler's check changed?: ( )
What is the exchange rate?: ( )
Where is an automatic teller machine (ATM)?: ( )

Eating

A table for one person/two people, please.: ( )
Can I look at the menu, please?: ( )
Can I look in the kitchen?: ( )
Is there a house specialty?: ( )
Is there a local specialty?: ( )
I'm a vegetarian.: ( )
I don't eat pork.: ( )
I don't eat beef.: ( )
I only eat kosher food.: ( )
Can you make it "lite", please? (less oil/butter/lard): ( )
fixed-price meal: ( )
à la carte: ( )
breakfast: ( )
lunch: ( )
tea (meal): ( )
supper: ( )
I want _____.: ( )
I want a dish containing _____.: ( )
chicken: ayam
beef: ( )
fish: ( )
ham: ( )
sausage: ( )
cheese: ( )
eggs: ( )
salad: ( )
(fresh) vegetables: ( )
(fresh) fruit: ( )
bread: ( )
toast: ( )
noodles: ( )
rice: ( )
beans: ( )
May I have a glass of _____?: ( )
May I have a cup of _____?: ( )
May I have a bottle of _____?: ( )
coffee: ( )
tea (drink): ( )
juice: ( )
(bubbly) water: ( )
(still) water: ( )
beer: ( )
red/white wine: ( )
May I have some _____?: ( )
salt: ( )
black pepper: ( )
butter: ( )
Excuse me, waiter? (getting attention of server): ( )
I'm finished.: ( )
It was delicious.: ( )
Please clear the plates.: ( )
The check, please.: ( )

Bars

Do you serve alcohol?: ( )
Is there table service?: ( )
A beer/two beers, please.: ( )
A glass of red/white wine, please.: ( )
A pint, please.: ( )
A bottle, please.: ( )
_____ (hard liquor) and _____ (mixer), please.: ( )
whiskey: ( )
vodka: ( )
rum: ( )
water: ( )
club soda: ( )
tonic water: ( )
orange juice: ( )
Coke (soda): ( )
Do you have any bar snacks?: ( )
One more, please.: ( )
Another round, please.: ( )
When is closing time?: ( )
Cheers!: ( )

Shopping

Do you have this in my size?: ( )
How much is this?: ( )
That's too expensive.: ( )
Would you take _____?: ( )
expensive: ( )
cheap: ( )
I can't afford it.: ( )
I don't want it.: ( )
You're cheating me.: ( )
I'm not interested.: (..)
OK, I'll take it.: ( )
Can I have a bag?: ( )
Do you ship (overseas)?: ( )
I need...: ( )
...toothpaste.: ( )
...a toothbrush.: ( )
...tampons.: . ( )
...soap.: ( )
...shampoo.: ( )
...pain reliever. (e.g., aspirin or ibuprofen): ( )
...cold medicine.: ( )
...stomach medicine.: ... ( )
...a razor.: ( )
...an umbrella.: ( )
...sunblock lotion.: ( )
...a postcard.: ( )
...postage stamps.: ( )
...batteries.: ( )
...writing paper.: ( )
...a pen.: ( )
...English-language books.: ( )
...English-language magazines.: ( )
...an English-language newspaper.: ( )
...an English-English dictionary.: ( )

Driving

I want to rent a car.: ( )
Can I get insurance?: ( )
stop (on a street sign): ( )
one way: ( )
yield: ( )
no parking: ( )
speed limit: ( )
gas (petrol) station: ( )
petrol: ( )
diesel: ( )

Authority

I haven't done anything wrong.: ( )
It was a misunderstanding.: ( )
Where are you taking me?: ( )
Am I under arrest?: ( )
I am an American/Australian/British/Canadian citizen.: ( )
I want to talk to the American/Australian/British/Canadian embassy/consulate.: ( )
I want to talk to a lawyer.: ( )
Can I just pay a fine now?: ( )