When, while, until: ketika, selama, sampai

By Speak Indo, from the Speak Indo Indonesian course.

Connect events in time with these conjunctions.

How it works

Time-linking words you'll use constantly: • ketika / waktu, 'when' (formal / casual) • saat, 'at the moment when' • sementara, 'while, in the meantime' • selama, 'during, for (a duration)' • sampai / hingga, 'until' • sebelum, 'before' • setelah / sesudah, 'after' Word order is flexible, the time-clause can come first or second.

Examples

• Ketika saya kecil, saya tinggal di desa.
  When I was small, I lived in a village.
• Tunggu sampai saya selesai.
  Wait until I'm finished.
• Selama saya di Bali, hujan terus.
  While I was in Bali, it kept raining.
• Sebelum makan, cuci tangan.
  Before eating, wash your hands.