Indonesian greetings are straightforward, but getting them right makes a huge difference. Here’s how to nail them.
Basic Greetings
- Selamat pagi (/səˈlɑːmət ˈpɑːɡi/) – Good morning. Use until around 10 AM.
- Selamat siang (/səˈlɑːmət ˈsiɑːŋ/) – Good day. From 10 AM to 3 PM.
- Selamat sore (/səˈlɑːmət ˈsɔːre/) – Good afternoon. From 3 PM to sunset.
- Selamat malam (/səˈlɑːmət ˈmɑːlɑːm/) – Good evening/night. After sunset.
Pro tip: Indonesians often shorten "Selamat" to "Met" in casual speech. E.g., "Met pagi!"
Casual Greetings
Halo
/ˈhɑːlo/“Hello”
The universal "hello". Works anytime, anywhere.
Apa kabar?
/ˈɑːpɑː ˈkɑːbɑːr/“How are you?”
Literally "What news?". Standard reply: "Baik" (good) or "Baik-baik saja" (just fine).
For friends, you can drop the formality:
- Hai (/hɑːi/) – Hi. Yes, it’s borrowed from English.
- Pagi (/ˈpɑːɡi/) – Morning. Casual version of "Selamat pagi".
Responses and Follow-ups
| Question | Response |
|---|---|
| Dari mana? | "Where are you from?" Reply with your origin (e.g., "Dari Inggris"). |
| Sudah makan? | "Have you eaten?" A cultural greeting, not an actual lunch invitation. Reply "Sudah" (yes) or "Belum" (not yet). |
Goodbyes
- Selamat tinggal (/səˈlɑːmət ˈtiŋɡɑːl/) – Goodbye (if you’re leaving).
- Sampai jumpa (/ˈsɑːmpɑːi ˈdʒumpɑː/) – See you later. More common.
- Dadah (/ˈdɑːdɑː/) – Bye. Super casual, like "ta-ta".
When in Doubt
Indonesians are forgiving. If you mess up, just smile. Need more phrases? Check out our guide on Indonesian public transportation phrases.
Final note: Don’t stress about formality. Unlike Japanese or Korean, Indonesian doesn’t have complex honorifics. Just be polite and you’ll be fine.
