Balinese for Sorry – And When You’ll Need It (Spoiler: Probably After Temple Selfies)
How to Say Sorry in Balinese?
Short Answer:
“In Balinese, ‘sorry’ is Ampura — pronounced AHM-poo-rah (roll the ‘r’ like you mean it).
Want to avoid side-eye from grandma at a ceremony? Throw in a sembah (hands pressed together) and whisper “Nyanggra” (NYAHNG-grah) for bonus sincerity points.”
Quick Context: When to Use Which
- Casual “Ampura”: For oops-I’m-a-clumsy-tourist moments:
- Stepping on a canang sari offering (RIP, little flower basket)
- Accidentally photobombing a melasti procession (they’re not extras in your vlog)
- Deep-Cut “Nyanggra”: For oh-god-I-just-insulted-a-priest situations:
- Walking into a pura (temple) dressed like a gym influencer
- Calling a Barong mask “creepy” (it hears you, and it remembers).
🧳Read : Suksma, Bali! How to Say Thank You Like a Local
〰️🌀〰️🌀〰️🌀〰️
Why “Ampura” is Your Bali Survival Word
Let’s be real: Bali’s unwritten rules can turn even a chill beach bum into a walking cultural faux pas. Ampura isn’t just “sorry”—it’s your get-out-of-jail-free card for these classic tourist nightmares:
1. Temple Tantrums
You thought that Instagram pose between oranges offerings was aesthetic? Cue the locals gasping like you just kicked a sacred Barong. Ampura + quick sembah = instant redemption (and maybe deleted photos).
2. Scooter Mayhem
Cut off a Balinese grandma on a motorbike? Her glare could melt your helmet. A yelled “Ampura!” mid-zigzag says, “I’m an idiot, but I’m trying.”
3. Offering Obliteration
Stepped on a canang sari? That’s like crushing someone’s prayer bouquet. Drop an Ampura and don’t mimic the tourist who tried to “fix” it with a 50k bill (the gods prefer apologies, not bribes).
4. The “Bali Belly” Blunder
Just sprinted past a ceremony to reach the toilet? Whisper “Nyanggra” later—it’s the VIP sorry for when your karma’s literally exploding.
Pro Tip:
Balinese folks never say “no” directly. If you get a tense smile after your Ampura, you’ve probably messed up real bad. Follow up with “Tiang tusing nyeneng” (“I didn’t mean it”) and a cold Bintang beer as a peace offering.
🧳Read: Bali Travel Tips: 100+ Brutally Honest FAQs
〰️🌀〰️🌀〰️🌀〰️
How to Ampura Like a Local
🎧 Sound Like a Local
Tap play to master the apology — because “AHM-poor-uh” and “AHM-poo-rah” are the difference between “oops” and “I vow to fix my karma”:
Tourist vs. Pro: The Sorry Showdown
| Role | What They Say | Local Reaction |
|---|---|---|
| 🧢 Tourist | 🗣️ “Maaf!” (Indonesian) | 😑 “At least they tried…” |
| 🎯 Pro | 🗣️ “Ampura!” + sembah (prayer hands) | 🤯 “This bule knows adat 👀✨” |
| 💥 Disaster Tourist | 🗣️ “Oops, my bad!” (while stepping on offerings) | ☠️ “Quick, someone purify the temple…” |
See? One word + the right gesture = instant karma repair. Now go collect those forgiven coconuts.
Level Up Your Ampura: 3 Local Moves
- The “Sembah Swoop”
- Say “Ampura” while pressing palms together (sembah) and slightly bowing.
- Why? Balinese apologies aren’t complete without body language.
- The “Nyanggra” Nuclear Option
- For serious offenses (e.g., interrupting a priest), hit them with:
“Nyanggra titiang…” (“I humbly beg forgiveness”). - Pro move: Add a small offering (even a flower) to show sincerity.
- For serious offenses (e.g., interrupting a priest), hit them with:
- The “Bribe—We Mean, Bonus” Tactic
- Accidentally ruined a vendor’s display? Ampura + buy something small.
- Local hack: “Ampura, neked malu…” (“Sorry, I’m so embarrassed”) = guilt trip turned charm.
Never Do This ❌
- Laugh it off (even if it’s awkward). Balinese take harmony seriously.
- Say “Ampura” while walking away. Stop, face the person, and mean it.
- Overdo the bowing. Think “respectful nod,” not “90-degree.”
〰️🌀〰️🌀〰️🌀〰️
Ampura in Action: 3 Wild Tourist Stories (Saves & Fails)
Bali’s a paradise… until you accidentally offend a pemangku (temple priest) or turn a sacred tree into your TikTok backdrop. Here’s how Ampura saved (or failed) these tourists:
1. The Temple Selfie Disaster
What Happened:
A German influencer posed inside a Pura Dalem (temple for the dead) in a bikini cover-up. Cue: 20 villagers staring in horror.
The Save:
- She dropped her phone, did a full sembah, and gasped: “Ampura, tiang tidak tahu!” (“Sorry, I didn’t know!”).
- Outcome: The priest splashed her with holy water (free purification!), and she donated to the temple. Ampura win.
Had She Said: “Relax, it’s just a photo!” → Banned from the village.
2. The Offering Trample
What Happened:
A Russian tourist sprinted through a melasti procession, crushing 6 canang sari offerings. The crowd gasped like he’d stomped on a puppy.
The Fail:
- He yelled “Sorry!” in English… while still running.
- Outcome: The locals “accidentally” directed him to the wrong airport shuttle. Karma’s a jetlag.
Pro Move: Freeze, whisper “Ampura,” and help rebuild the offerings (even clumsily). Instant forgiveness.
3. The Barong Mask Blunder
What Happened:
A drunk Aussie called a Barong mask “that rave lion thing” and tried to wear it. The mask’s spirit is said to possess wearers.
The Save (Barely):
- His Balinese friend shoved him, hissed “Nyanggra NOW!”
- He knelt, stammered “Ampura… ampura…” and offered a donation for repairs.
- Outcome: The pemangku laughed (after 10 tense minutes) and said “Foolish, but respectful.”
Had He: Taken a selfie with it? Ceremonial exile.
Ampura Moral of the Story:
- Tourists who listen, apologize fast, and show effort = get hugs, holy water, and maybe a viral redemption arc.
- Tourists who double down = “lost” by Google Maps, cursed by grandmas, and haunted by leak (Balinese ghosts).
Your Turn: Master Ampura, and Bali becomes your second home. Screw it up, and… well, hope you like airport floors.
🧳Read: Need help with left behind items in Bali? Free and Sincere Help from Hey Bali
〰️🌀〰️🌀〰️🌀〰️
How to Say ‘My Bad’ in 3 Other Balinese Dialects
Because Ampura isn’t the only way to apologize in Bali—local dialects have their own spicy flavors of “oops.” Master these, and you’ll level up from clueless tourist to accidental anthropologist.
1. “Nunas Ampura” (High Balinese – for Priests & Elders)
- Literal Meaning: “I request forgiveness” (next-level polite)
- When to Use:
- You interrupted a Mekotek ritual (yes, the one where men whack each other with sticks).
- Called a Brahmin priest “dude.”
- Pronunciation: NOO-nas AHM-poo-rah (say it slow, like you’re confessing to the gods).
- Pro Tip: Add “sampun ngaturang” (“I didn’t mean to”) for extra credit.
Local Reaction: 😲 “This foreigner speaks basa alus (refined language)? Sorcery!”
2. “Lakar Nyeneng” (Casual Balinese – for Warung Mishaps)
- Literal Meaning: “I messed up” (but chill, like spilling bintang on a friend).
- When to Use:
- Knocked over a kuih stall at Ubud Market.
- Tried to haggle way too hard (and now the seller’s side-eyeing you).
- Pronunciation: LAH-kar NYEH-ning (grin sheepishly while saying it).
- Pro Tip: Follow up with “Beli aja, deh!” (“Fine, I’ll buy it!”) to seal the peace.
Local Reaction: 😆 “Hah! Cheeky, but okay.”
3. “Punapi Malih?” (North Bali – When You Really Screwed Up)
- Literal Meaning: “What have I done?” (dramatic, like a telenovela confession).
- When to Use:
- You accidentally brought beef into a Hindu village (big no-no).
- Took a sacred *tukad (river) selfie during Nyepi (silent day).
- Pronunciation: POO-nah-pee MAH-leh? (channel your inner soap opera star).
- Pro Tip: Crouch slightly—body language sells the remorse.
Local Reaction: 😤 “…Damn, they’re committed to this apology.”
Dialect Cheat Sheet
| Situation | Dialect | Phrase | Effect |
|---|---|---|---|
| Temple oops | High Balinese | “Nunas Ampura” | Priests might adopt you |
| Market chaos | Casual Balinese | “Lakar Nyeneng” | Free sambal samples |
| Cultural felony | North Bali | “Punapi Malih?” | Villagers pause their anger |
Why This Matters
- High Balinese = Your “get out of spiritual jail” card.
- Casual Balinese = For when you’re both wrong (but wanna laugh it off).
- North Balinese = The “I might get exiled” Hail Mary.
Final Warning: If you yell “SORRY BROS!” in English after trampling an offering… good luck finding a taxi home.
〰️🌀〰️🌀〰️🌀〰️
5 Burning FAQs About “Ampura” (Balinese for “Sorry”)
Read : Best SIM Cards & eSIMs for Fast, Reliable Internet in Bali
〰️🌀〰️🌀〰️🌀〰️
Final Conclusion: How to Say “Sorry” in Balinese & Avoid Karma Backlash
You did it! Now you know:
- “Ampura” = Your Bali “oops” savior
- “Nyanggra” = For when you really messed up (like temple-selfie-level oops)
- “Lakar Nyeneng” = Casual “my bad” for warung chaos
- “Punapi Malih?” = The dramatic “what have I done?!” for next-level regrets
And remember: Ampura isn’t just a word—it’s sembah, sincerity, and sometimes… free forgiveness (and maybe even a free coconut if you’re lucky).
Need a Ride? “Ampura” Your Way Out of a Tourist Tax!
Exploring Bali? Hey Bali rents cars for just 500K/12 hours—cheaper than a taxi driver’s “special tourist price.” Show this article, and we’ll throw in a free “Balinese Apology Cheat Sheet” so you can Ampura like a local!
🧳 Baggage Drama? We’ve Got You!
Stuck with luggage? Store it with us for 25K/day (half the normal 50K rate!). Mention this article, and we’ll even teach you how to say “Ampura” to your suitcase for taking up so much space.
Parting Wisdom (a.k.a. A Joke to Make You Sembah-Laugh):
“Why did the tourist say ‘Ampura’ to a coconut tree?”
…Because he leaf-t his manners at home! 🌴
Now go forth, Ampura like a pro, and watch those Balinese frowns turn into smiles! (And if all else fails, just sembah and hope the gods have WiFi.)
(P.S. Monkeys accept Ampura faster than they steal your sunglasses. True story.)
〰️🌀〰️🌀〰️🌀〰️
Meet the Author
Giostanovlatto is a self-proclaimed “professional wanderluster” who believes that life is too short to stay in one place. When he’s not busy chasing sunsets or hunting for the best local food, you can find him striking up conversations with strangers (who often become friends by the end of the trip).
