Indonesian greetings: hello, good morning and how are you
Halo means hello in Indonesian. Here are the greetings for each time of day, how to answer apa kabar, and how to say goodbye.
Iwan
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November 2, 2026
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3
Quick answer
"Hello" in Indonesian is halo. For greetings by time of day, say selamat pagi (morning), selamat siang (around midday), selamat sore (late afternoon) and selamat malam (evening). To ask "how are you?", say apa kabar?, and reply baik (fine).
Hello: halo and hai
Halo: hello. Works with anyone, and it's how most people answer the phone.
Hai: hi. Casual, for friends and people your age.
Greetings by time of day
Indonesians greet by the time of day more than with "hello". Selamat means "safe" or "well", so each greeting wishes someone a good part of the day.
Selamat pagi: good morning. From waking up until about 11 am.
Selamat siang: good day. From about 11 am to 3 pm, in the heat of the day.
Selamat sore: good afternoon. From about 3 pm until sunset.
Selamat malam: good evening. After dark. Use it when you arrive, not when you go to bed.
With friends, people often drop selamat and just say pagi or malam.
How are you? Apa kabar
Apa kabar? How are you? Literally "what news?"
Baik: fine, good.
Baik, terima kasih. Dan Anda? Fine, thank you. And you?
Kabar baik: I'm well. A slightly fuller reply.
Be polite: add Pak or Bu
Add Pak for a man or Bu for a woman, especially someone older or senior: Selamat pagi, Bu. To get someone's attention or squeeze past, say permisi (excuse me).
Selamat pagi, Bu: good morning, madam.
Permisi: excuse me.
Welcome
Selamat datang: welcome. You'll see it at airports, hotels and shop doors.
Saying goodbye
Sampai jumpa: see you. The everyday goodbye.
Sampai jumpa lagi: see you again.
Selamat tinggal: goodbye. Said by the person leaving to those who stay.
Selamat jalan: goodbye, safe travels. Said to the person who is leaving.
Selamat tidur: good night. Only when someone is going to sleep.
Dadah: bye-bye. Casual, often with a wave.
Small words you'll use with greetings
Ya: yes.
Tidak: no.
Maaf: sorry.
Tidak apa-apa: it's OK, no problem.
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Frequently asked questions
How do you say hello in Indonesian?
Say halo. With friends, hai is also common. Many Indonesians greet by time of day instead, such as selamat pagi in the morning.
How do you say good night in Indonesian?
When you meet someone in the evening, say selamat malam. When someone is going to bed, say selamat tidur.
What is the difference between selamat sore and selamat malam?
Selamat sore is for the late afternoon, from about 3 pm until sunset. Selamat malam is for after dark.
How do you reply to apa kabar?
Say baik, terima kasih (fine, thank you). To ask back, add dan Anda? (and you?).
What is the difference between selamat tinggal and selamat jalan?
The person leaving says selamat tinggal to those who stay. The people staying say selamat jalan to the person who leaves.
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