Greetings and politeness in Indonesian
Hello, please, thank you, sorry: the ten openers everything else builds on. Play the ten Indonesian words against the clock, with a note on how locals really use each one after every answer. All ten are written out below.
All 11 Indonesian phrases in this lesson
- HaloHAH-loh
- Hello
- Selamat pagiseh-LAH-mat PAH-gee
- Good morning
- Selamat malamseh-LAH-mat MAH-lahm
- Good evening
- Selamat tinggalseh-LAH-mat TING-gal
- Goodbye
- Sampai jumpaSAHM-pai JOOM-pah
- See you
- TolongTOH-long
- Please
- Terima kasihteh-REE-ma KAH-see
- Thank you
- Sama-samaSAH-ma SAH-ma
- You're welcome
- Maafmah-AHF
- Sorry
- Permisiper-MEE-see
- Excuse me
- Senang bertemu Andaseh-NAHNG ber-teh-MOO AHN-dah
- Nice to meet you
The modern greeting, used everywhere, especially on the phone and in urban settings. Slightly more informal than the traditional selamat pair.
The formal opener until around 11am. Selamat means both "safe" and "congratulations"; pagi is morning. Always respected, works in any setting.
Used from dusk on, on arrival as well as parting. "Selamat sore" covers the late afternoon.
Tinggal means "stay"; selamat tinggal means "goodbye" to someone staying. The person leaving says "selamat jalan" (safe traveling). Match the direction.
Literally "until we meet", the everyday goodbye. Selamat tinggal is formal and sounds final.
The everyday word meaning "help" or "please". More casual than mohon. Tolong (please) plus a verb makes requests work: tolong tunggu (please wait), tolong bantu (please help).
The standard. Shortened to just kasih in casual speech among friends. Every transaction ends with this word; it is reflexive.
Literally "same-same", meaning the thanks goes both ways. Also hear "tidak apa-apa" (no problem) and "senang membantu" (happy to help) in service contexts.
The everyday apology. "Mohon maaf" is the formal version.
The Dutch loanword for "permission". Used when squeezing past someone or interrupting. Also maaf (sorry) when you have actually done something wrong.
Literally "happy to meet you".