Indonesian greetings: from hello to goodbye.
Hello in Indonesian is halo. It works everywhere, but Indonesian greetings often tell you more: the time of day, the relationship, or the simple fact that someone has noticed you.
The quick answer
- Halo! Hello!
- Selamat pagi. Good morning.
- Apa kabar? How are you?
- Baik, terima kasih. Fine, thank you.
- Sampai jumpa. See you later.
If you learn only those five, you can open and close a polite exchange anywhere in Indonesia. The rest of this guide helps you choose a greeting that sounds natural for the moment.
How to say hello in Indonesian
Halo sounds close to English "hello": HAH-lo. Hai is also common and casual, especially in messages, among friends, and when addressing a group online. Neither form is tied to a time of day.
In a shop, hotel, office, or first meeting, add a respectful title when it fits:
- Halo, Pak. Hello, sir.
- Selamat pagi, Bu. Good morning, ma'am.
- Hai, Kak. Hi, older sibling, used warmly for many younger adults.
Pak and Bu are respectful everyday forms. Kak is friendlier and increasingly common in service settings. In parts of Java you will also hear Mas for a man and Mbak for a woman.
Good morning, afternoon, and evening
The word selamat expresses safety or well-being and introduces time-based greetings. The boundaries are flexible, so listen to the people around you rather than treating the clock as a strict grammar rule.
- Selamat pagi, good morning, from early morning until roughly 10 or 11.
- Selamat siang, good day or early afternoon, around late morning to about 3.
- Selamat sore, good late afternoon, from roughly 3 until sunset.
- Selamat malam, good evening or good night, after dark.
The stress stays light and even: seh-LAH-maht PAH-gee. In ordinary conversation, people often shorten the greeting to Pagi, Pak or simply Pagi!
How to ask "How are you?"
Apa kabar? literally asks "what news?" and is the standard learner-friendly way to say "How are you?" A natural reply can be short:
- Baik. Fine.
- Baik, terima kasih. Kamu? Fine, thank you. You?
- Lumayan. Not bad.
- Baik-baik saja. I am doing fine.
Close friends may ask Gimana kabarnya? or just Gimana? The shorter form is casual and depends heavily on context.
Greetings that sound like questions
Indonesians often acknowledge someone with a light question. Mau ke mana? means "Where are you going?" and Sudah makan? means "Have you eaten?" They can be genuine questions, but they can also function like friendly small talk.
You do not need to give a detailed itinerary. A brief answer keeps the exchange warm:
- Mau ke mana?
Ke warung sebentar.
Where are you going? To the food stall for a moment. - Sudah makan?
Sudah. Kamu?
Have you eaten? Yes. You?
This is one reason a literal phrasebook can feel stiff. The words carry a social function as well as a dictionary meaning.
How to introduce yourself
After the greeting, use Nama saya... for "My name is..." and Senang bertemu dengan Anda for "Nice to meet you." With a peer, Senang kenal is a lighter, more casual option.
- Halo, nama saya Anna.
Hello, my name is Anna. - Saya dari Australia.
I am from Australia. - Senang bertemu dengan Anda.
Nice to meet you.
How to say goodbye in Indonesian
Sampai jumpa means "until we meet" and works like "see you later." Indonesian also lets you say when you expect to meet again:
- Sampai nanti. See you later today.
- Sampai besok. See you tomorrow.
- Sampai minggu depan. See you next week.
- Hati-hati. Take care, literally "be careful."
Selamat tinggal and selamat jalan appear in textbooks. They are correct but more specific and often more final. Selamat tinggal is said by the person staying, while selamat jalan is said to the person leaving. In everyday short goodbyes, sampai nanti is usually easier and more natural.
Are greetings different in Bali?
Indonesian is understood across Bali, so halo, selamat pagi, and terima kasih are safe choices. Balinese is a separate regional language, and you may also hear Om Swastiastu in Hindu and formal cultural settings. You do not need to replace Indonesian with Balinese to be polite.
For more travel situations, use the 50 Indonesian phrases for Bali guide.
A short greeting dialogue
- A: Selamat pagi, Bu. Apa kabar?
- B: Baik, terima kasih. Anda?
- A: Baik. Saya mau beli kopi.
- B: Silakan.
- A: Terima kasih. Sampai nanti.
A: Good morning, ma'am. How are you? B: Fine, thank you. You? A: Fine. I would like to buy coffee. B: Go ahead. A: Thank you. See you later.