Basic Expressions in Indonesian

Overview

Learning a set of everyday expressions is the fastest way to start communicating in Indonesian. These fixed phrases cover greetings, politeness, apologies, and simple conversational exchanges. Many can be memorized and used immediately, even before you understand the grammar behind them.

Indonesian greetings are organized by time of day using the word selamat (which roughly means "safe" or "blessed"). Politeness expressions like terima kasih (thank you), maaf (sorry), and silakan (please/go ahead) are essential for making a good impression. Indonesians greatly appreciate foreigners who make the effort to use these basic courtesies.

How It Works

Greetings by Time of Day

Indonesian	English	Time
Selamat pagi	Good morning	~06:00-11:00
Selamat siang	Good day	~11:00-15:00
Selamat sore	Good afternoon	~15:00-18:00
Selamat malam	Good evening/night	~18:00+

Farewells

Indonesian	English
Sampai jumpa	See you / Goodbye
Sampai nanti	See you later
Sampai besok	See you tomorrow
Dadah / Daa	Bye (casual)

Polite Expressions

Indonesian	English
Terima kasih	Thank you
Sama-sama	You're welcome
Maaf	Sorry
Permisi	Excuse me
Silakan	Please / Go ahead
Tidak apa-apa	It's okay / No problem
Tolong	Please (requesting help)

Examples in Context

Indonesian	English	Note
Selamat pagi!	Good morning!	Standard morning greeting
Maaf, saya tidak tahu.	Sorry, I don't know.	Polite admission
Tidak apa-apa.	It's okay.	Reassuring someone
Silakan duduk.	Please sit down.	Polite invitation
Terima kasih banyak.	Thank you very much.	Extra gratitude
Sama-sama.	You're welcome.	Reply to thanks
Permisi, Pak.	Excuse me, sir.	Getting attention
Apa kabar?	How are you?	Common greeting
Baik-baik saja.	I'm fine.	Reply to "how are you"
Sampai jumpa lagi!	See you again!	Farewell

Common Mistakes

Mixing up selamat greetings

• Wrong: Saying selamat pagi at 3 PM
• Right: Selamat sore in the afternoon
• Why: Indonesian greetings are time-specific. Using the wrong one sounds odd.

Confusing silakan and tolong

• Wrong: Silakan bantu saya (Please-go-ahead help me)
• Right: Tolong bantu saya (Please help me)
• Why: Silakan is an invitation ("go ahead"), while tolong is a request for help.

Forgetting to reply to terima kasih

• Wrong: Not responding when thanked
• Right: Sama-sama (You're welcome)
• Why: Responding is polite and expected, just like in English.

Practice Tips

1. Memorize the four time-of-day greetings and practice using the right one at the right time throughout your day.
2. Use terima kasih and maaf as often as possible in practice — politeness phrases are the ones you will need most frequently.

Related Concepts

• Address Terms and Greetings — formal titles and address conventions