How to say thank you in Indonesian, and how to reply
Terima kasih is thank you in Indonesian. Here are the casual and polite ways to say it, how to reply, and when to use each one.
Iwan
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November 1, 2026
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3
Quick answer
"Thank you" in Indonesian is terima kasih (tuh-REE-mah KAH-see). For "thank you very much", say terima kasih banyak. With friends, most Indonesians say makasih. To reply "you're welcome", say sama-sama.
Terima kasih: the thank you that works everywhere
Terima means "receive" and kasih means "love" or "affection". Together they mean thank you. You can say it to a taxi driver, a colleague or your mother-in-law. The final h is soft, so kasih sounds close to "KAH-see".
Ways to say thank you, from casual to formal
Makasih: thanks. For friends, drivers and everyday chats.
Makasih ya: thanks, OK? Friendly and warm, and common on WhatsApp.
Makasih banget: thanks so much. Friends only, because banget is casual for "very".
Terima kasih: thank you. For anyone, anywhere.
Terima kasih banyak: thank you very much. For when someone went out of their way.
Terima kasih, Pak or Terima kasih, Bu: thank you, sir or thank you, madam. For older people and anyone you address with respect.
Saya sangat berterima kasih: I'm very grateful. For formal emails and speeches.
Say what you're thankful for
Add atas or untuk and the thing you're thankful for. Atas sounds a little more formal.
Terima kasih atas bantuannya. Thank you for your help.
Terima kasih atas waktunya. Thank you for your time.
Terima kasih untuk makan malamnya. Thank you for dinner.
The -nya at the end works like "the": bantuannya is "the help".
Add Pak or Bu to sound polite
Indonesians often add a title after terima kasih. Use Pak (short for Bapak) for a man and Bu (short for Ibu) for a woman, especially if they're older than you or senior at work. Terima kasih, Bu sounds warmer and more respectful than terima kasih alone.
How to reply to thank you
Sama-sama. You're welcome. This is the reply you'll hear most. Sama means "same", so it feels like "likewise".
Kembali. You're welcome. It's a little more formal and literally means "back (to you)".
Terima kasih kembali. Thank you too. It's polite, and common in shops and offices.
Thank you in emails and messages
Formal emails: end with Terima kasih atas perhatiannya (thank you for your attention).
WhatsApp with friends:Makasih ya is friendly and natural.
Spelling: you'll often see makasih shortened to mksh in texts.
Two common mistakes
Writing it as one word. It's terima kasih, two words. Terimakasih is a common misspelling.
Being too casual.Makasih banget is fine with friends, but it sounds off with your boss, a client or your partner's parents. Use terima kasih or terima kasih banyak instead.
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Frequently asked questions
What does terima kasih mean literally?
Terima means "receive" and kasih means "love" or "affection". In everyday use, terima kasih simply means "thank you".
How do you say thank you very much in Indonesian?
Say terima kasih banyak. With friends, you can say makasih banyak or makasih banget.
How do you say you're welcome in Indonesian?
The most common reply is sama-sama. In more formal settings, people also say kembali or terima kasih kembali.
Is terima kasih the same in Malay and Indonesian?
Yes. Terima kasih means thank you in both languages. The casual forms differ: makasih and makasih banget are typical of everyday Indonesian.
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Learn with native Indonesian teachers in classes of 3 to 8, at Tanjong Pagar or online. Start with a free 1-hour preview on Zoom.
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