Balinese for Sorry โ And When Youโll Need It (Spoiler: Probably After Temple Selfies)
How to Say Sorry in Balinese?
Short Answer:
“In Balinese, โsorryโ is Ampura โ pronounced AHM-poo-rah (roll the โrโ like you mean it).
Want to avoid side-eye from grandma at a ceremony? Throw in a sembah (hands pressed together) and whisper โNyanggraโ (NYAHNG-grah) for bonus sincerity points.”
Quick Context: When to Use Which
- Casual โAmpuraโ: For oops-Iโm-a-clumsy-tourist moments:
- Stepping on a canang sari offering (RIP, little flower basket)
- Accidentally photobombing a melasti procession (theyโre not extras in your vlog)
- Deep-Cut โNyanggraโ: 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).
๐งณReadย :ย Suksma, Bali! How to Say Thank You Like a Local
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Why “Ampura” is Your Bali Survival Word
Letโs be real: Baliโs unwritten rules can turn even a chill beach bum into a walking cultural faux pas. Ampura isnโt just “sorry”โitโs 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, “Iโm an idiot, but Iโm trying.”
3. Offering Obliteration
Stepped on a canang sari? Thatโs like crushing someoneโs prayer bouquet. Drop an Ampura and donโt 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” laterโitโs the VIP sorry for when your karmaโs literally exploding.
Pro Tip:
Balinese folks never say “no” directly. If you get a tense smile after your Ampura, youโve probably messed up real bad. Follow up with “Tiang tusing nyeneng” (“I didnโt mean it”) and a cold Bintang beer as a peace offering.
๐งณRead:ย Bali Travel Tips: 100+ Brutally Honest FAQs
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How to Ampura Like a Local
๐ง Sound Like a Local
Tap play to master the apology โ 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 |
|---|---|---|
| ๐งข Tourist | ๐ฃ๏ธ “Maaf!” (Indonesian) | ๐ “At least they triedโฆ” |
| ๐ฏ Pro | ๐ฃ๏ธ “Ampura!” + sembah (prayer hands) | ๐คฏ “This bule knows adat ๐โจ” |
| ๐ฅ Disaster Tourist | ๐ฃ๏ธ “Oops, my bad!” (while stepping on offerings) | โ ๏ธ “Quick, someone purify the templeโฆ” |
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”
- Sayย “Ampura”ย while pressing palms together (sembah) andย slightly bowing.
- Why?ย Balinese apologies arenโt complete withoutย body language.
- The “Nyanggra” Nuclear Option
- Forย serious offensesย (e.g., interrupting a priest), hit them with:
“Nyanggra titiangโฆ”ย (“I humbly beg forgiveness”). - Pro move:ย Add aย small offeringย (even a flower) to show sincerity.
- Forย serious offensesย (e.g., interrupting a priest), hit them with:
- The “BribeโWe Mean, Bonus” Tactic
- Accidentally ruined a vendorโs display?ย Ampuraย + buy something small.
- Local hack:ย “Ampura, neked maluโฆ” (“Sorry, Iโm so embarrassed”) = guilt trip turned charm.
Never Do This โ
- Laugh it offย (even if itโs awkward). Balinese take harmonyย seriously.
- Say “Ampura” while walking away. Stop, face the person, andย mean it.
- Overdo the bowing. Think “respectful nod,” not “90-degree.”
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Ampura in Action: 3 Wild Tourist Stories (Saves & Fails)
Baliโs a paradiseโฆ until you accidentally offend a pemangku (temple priest) or turn a sacred tree into your TikTok backdrop. Hereโs 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 aย full sembah, and gasped:ย โAmpura, tiang tidak tahu!โย (โSorry, I didnโt know!โ).
- Outcome:ย The priest splashed her with holy water (free purification!), and she donated to the temple.ย Ampura win.
Had She Said: โRelax, itโs just a photo!โ โ 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 heโd stomped on a puppy.
The Fail:
- He yelledย โSorry!โย in Englishโฆ whileย still running.
- Outcome:ย The locals โaccidentallyโ directed him to theย wrongย airport shuttle. Karmaโs a jetlag.
Pro Move: Freeze, whisper โAmpura,โ and help rebuild the offerings (even clumsily). Instant forgiveness.
3. The Barong Mask Blunder
What Happened:
A drunk Aussie called aย Barong maskย โthat rave lion thingโ and tried to wear it.ย The maskโs spirit is said to possess wearers.
The Save (Barely):
- His Balinese friend shoved him, hissedย โNyanggra NOW!โ
- He knelt, stammeredย โAmpuraโฆ ampuraโฆโย and offered aย donation for repairs.
- Outcome:ย Theย pemangkuย laughed (after 10 tense minutes) and saidย โFoolish, but respectful.โ
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 = โlostโ 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, andโฆ well, hope you like airport floors.
๐งณRead:ย Need help with left behind items in Bali? Free and Sincere Help from Hey Bali
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How to Say โMy Badโ in 3 Other Balinese Dialects
Because Ampura isnโt the only way to apologize in Baliโlocal dialects have their own spicy flavors of “oops.” Master these, and youโll level up from clueless tourist to accidental anthropologist.
1. “Nunas Ampura” (High Balinese โ 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 youโre confessing to the gods).
- Pro Tip: Add “sampun ngaturang” (“I didnโt mean to”) for extra credit.
Local Reaction: ๐ฒ “This foreigner speaks basa alus (refined language)? Sorcery!”
2. “Lakar Nyeneng” (Casual Balinese โ 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 sellerโs side-eyeing you).
- Pronunciation: LAH-kar NYEH-ning (grin sheepishly while saying it).
- Pro Tip: Follow up with “Beli aja, deh!” (“Fine, Iโll buy it!”) to seal the peace.
Local Reaction: ๐ “Hah! Cheeky, but okay.”
3. “Punapi Malih?” (North Bali โ When Youย Reallyย 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 slightlyโbody language sells the remorse.
Local Reaction: ๐ค “โฆDamn, theyโre 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 Balineseย = Your “get out of spiritual jail” card.
- Casual Balineseย = For when youโreย bothย wrong (but wanna laugh it off).
- North Balineseย = The “I might get exiled”ย Hail Mary.
Final Warning: If you yell “SORRY BROS!” in English after trampling an offeringโฆ good luck finding a taxi home.
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5 Burning FAQs About “Ampura” (Balinese for “Sorry”)
Readย :ย Best SIM Cards & eSIMs for Fast, Reliable Internet in Bali
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Final Conclusion: How to Say โSorryโ in Balinese & Avoid Karma Backlash
You did it! Now you know:
- โAmpuraโย = Your Bali “oops” savior
- โNyanggraโย = For when youย reallyย messed up (like temple-selfie-level oops)
- โLakar Nyenengโย = Casual “my bad” for warung chaos
- โPunapi Malih?โย = The dramatic “what have I done?!” for next-level regrets
And remember: Ampura isnโt just a wordโitโs sembah, sincerity, and sometimesโฆ free forgiveness (and maybe even a free coconut if youโre lucky).
Need a Ride? “Ampura” Your Way Out of a Tourist Tax!
Exploring Bali?ย Hey Bali rents cars for just 500K/12 hoursโcheaper than a taxi driverโs โspecial tourist price.โ Show this article, and weโll throw in aย free โBalinese Apology Cheat Sheetโย so you canย Ampuraย like a local!
๐งณย Baggage Drama? Weโve Got You!
Stuck with luggage? Store it with us forย 25K/dayย (half the normal 50K rate!). Mention this article, and weโll even teach you how to sayย โAmpuraโย to your suitcase for taking up so much space.
Parting Wisdom (a.k.a. A Joke to Make Youย Sembah-Laugh):
“Why did the tourist say โAmpuraโ to a coconut tree?”
โฆBecause he leaf-t his manners at home! ๐ด
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.)
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Meet the Author
Giostanovlatto is a self-proclaimed “professional wanderluster” who believes that life is too short to stay in one place. When heโs 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).
