Last updated: April 24, 2026
Indonesian Greetings — 30+ Ways to Say Hello
From Selamat pagi to Assalamualaikum, from casual "Halo" to respectful "Pak/Bu" for elders — this guide covers every greeting, farewell and thank-you an Indonesian learner needs, with pronunciation and social context for each.
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Time-based
pagi, siang, sore, malam — match the time of day
Formal / informal
Pak/Bu with elders and strangers; Halo with peers
Religious
Assalamualaikum (Muslim), Om Swastiastu (Balinese)
Response
Always reply — silence is rude in Indonesian culture
The complete table
| Indonesian | Pronunciation | Meaning | When to use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Selamat pagi | suh-LA-maht PA-gee | Good morning | Until ~11am |
| Selamat siang | suh-LA-maht SEE-ahng | Good day | 11am to 3pm |
| Selamat sore | suh-LA-maht SO-reh | Good afternoon | 3pm to sunset |
| Selamat malam | suh-LA-maht MA-lahm | Good evening / night | After sunset |
| Halo | HA-lo | Hi / Hello | Informal, any time |
| Hai | hai | Hi | Very casual, young people |
| Apa kabar? | A-pah KA-bar | How are you? | Standard follow-up |
| Baik, terima kasih | BA-eek, tuh-REE-mah KA-see | Fine, thank you | Standard reply |
| Nama saya… | NA-mah SA-yah | My name is… | Introduction |
| Senang bertemu | suh-NAHNG buhr-TUH-moo | Nice to meet you | After names exchanged |
| Sampai jumpa | SAM-pai JOOM-pah | See you later | Goodbye, neutral |
| Selamat tinggal | suh-LA-maht TING-gahl | Goodbye (to someone staying) | Formal farewell |
| Selamat jalan | suh-LA-maht JA-lahn | Goodbye (to someone leaving) | Formal farewell |
| Dah | dah | Bye | Very casual |
| Terima kasih | tuh-REE-mah KA-see | Thank you | Standard |
| Terima kasih banyak | tuh-REE-mah KA-see BA-nyahk | Thank you very much | Emphasis |
| Sama-sama | SA-mah SA-mah | You're welcome | Standard reply |
| Assalamualaikum | ah-sah-LAH-moo ah-LAI-koom | Peace be upon you | Muslim greeting, very common |
| Wa'alaikumsalam | wah ah-LAI-koom-sah-LAHM | And peace upon you too | Reply to Assalamualaikum |
| Om Swastiastu | ohm swah-stee-AH-stoo | May peace be with you | Balinese Hindu greeting |
Cultural tips for greeting Indonesians
- Address by title + first name: "Pak Budi" (Mr. Budi), "Bu Sari" (Mrs. Sari). Using only the name can sound abrupt.
- A slight head nod or bow shows respect, especially with elders. No handshake is expected with people of opposite gender in conservative Muslim areas.
- Always greet back. Ignoring a greeting is considered very rude — even a simple "Halo" is enough.
- Match religious greetings. If someone says Assalamualaikum, reply Wa'alaikumsalam only if you are Muslim; otherwise "Halo" or "Selamat pagi" is polite.
- Smile generously. Indonesians value warmth and cheerfulness — the smile is part of the greeting.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you say hello in Indonesian?+
The most common way is "Halo" (informal) or time-based greetings: Selamat pagi (morning, before 11am), Selamat siang (11am-3pm), Selamat sore (3pm to sunset), Selamat malam (after sunset). For Muslims, Assalamualaikum is also very common.
What does "Halo sis", "Halo kak" or "Halo gan" mean?+
They are informal ways to say hi with a friendly title. "Kak" (from kakak, older sibling) is the safe, polite choice for someone around your age, man or woman: shop staff and online sellers use it all the time. "Sis" (sister) and "bro" (brother) are casual words borrowed from English, common in chats and online shops. "Gan" (from juragan, boss) comes from internet forums and is used jokingly between men. With strangers who are clearly older, use "Pak" or "Bu" instead.
What does "Apa kabar" mean?+
"Apa kabar?" literally means "What news?" and is the standard way to ask "How are you?" in Indonesian. Reply with "Baik, terima kasih" (Fine, thank you) or "Baik-baik saja" (Just fine).
How do Indonesians greet elders respectfully?+
Use "Pak" (for men) or "Bu" (for women) before the name or as a standalone term of address. Example: "Selamat pagi, Pak" (Good morning, sir). Also lower your gaze slightly and use "saya" (formal I) instead of "aku" (informal).
What is the difference between "Sampai jumpa" and "Selamat tinggal"?+
"Sampai jumpa" means "see you later" — neutral and most common. "Selamat tinggal" is literally "safe staying" — used when you are leaving someone behind. "Selamat jalan" is "safe journey" — used when someone else is leaving you.
Is "Assalamualaikum" used by non-Muslims?+
In Indonesia, Assalamualaikum is extremely common because ~87% of the population is Muslim. Non-Muslims usually respond with a neutral greeting like "Halo" or "Selamat pagi/siang" rather than the religious reply "Wa'alaikumsalam".
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