Language/Indonesian/Vocabulary/Greetings-and-Introductions

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Indonesian Vocabulary → Pronouns and Greetings → Greetings and Introductions

As a beginner in Indonesian, it is important to learn how to greet and introduce yourself. In this lesson, we will focus on common Indonesian greetings and expressions used in daily conversations.

Once you've mastered this lesson, take a look at these related pages: Animal Sounds & Time.

Indonesian Greetings

Indonesian culture values politeness and respect, so greetings are an important part of daily interactions. Depending on the time of day, the appropriate greeting may vary. Here are some of the most common greetings in Indonesian:

Indonesian	Pronunciation	English
Selamat pagi	[səˈlamat ˈpɑ.ɡi]	Good morning
Selamat siang	[səˈlamat ˈsjɑŋ]	Good afternoon
Selamat sore	[səˈlamat ˈso.re]	Good evening
Selamat malam	[səˈlamat ˈma.lam]	Good night

Note that selamat means "congratulations" or "good," and is often used as a general greeting or expression of good wishes.

Aside from selamat, there are other common Indonesian greetings you will frequently hear:

Hai! - Hi!
Halo! - Hello!
Apa kabar? - How are you?

Introducing Yourself

When meeting someone new, it is important to introduce yourself properly. Here are some common phrases to use when introducing yourself in Indonesian:

Nama saya ... - My name is ...
Saya berasal dari ... - I am from ...
Senang bertemu denganmu - Nice to meet you
Ini teman saya - This is my friend

For example, you could introduce yourself like this:

Nama saya Sarah. Saya berasal dari Amerika. Senang bertemu denganmu.

Or, if you want to introduce a friend:

Ini teman saya, Lisa. Dia juga berasal dari Amerika.

Tips for Using Indonesian Greetings

As mentioned earlier, Indonesian culture values politeness and respect, so it is important to use the appropriate greeting in different situations. Here are some tips to keep in mind:

Use selamat pagi until around 11 am, then switch to selamat siang until around 3 pm. After that, use selamat sore until the evening, and then selamat malam.
When entering someone's home, it is customary to say selamat datang, which means "welcome."
In formal situations, it is often appropriate to use the more respectful greeting salam or salam sejahtera, which both mean "peace be upon you."
When speaking to someone who is older, it is polite to add the word Pak (for men) or Ibu (for women) before their name.

By using appropriate greetings and introducing yourself properly, you can show respect for Indonesian culture and make a good impression on those around you.

Practice Exercise

To practice using the Indonesian greetings and introducing yourself, try to have a conversation with a friend using some of the phrases you learned in this lesson. You could start by saying selamat siang and introducing yourself, then ask how your friend is doing using apa kabar. Try to use as many of the greetings and introduction phrases as possible, and have fun!

Sources

Bahasa Indonesia

Table of Contents - Indonesian Course - 0 to A1

Course Presentation

Pronouns and Greetings

Personal Pronouns
Greetings and Introductions

Basic Grammar

Daily Life

Sentence Structure

Indonesian Culture

Travel and Transportation

Verb Tenses

Shopping and Bargaining

Indonesian Arts

Modal Verbs

Colors and Shapes

Comparative and Superlative

Indonesian Traditions

Emergencies

Indirect and Direct Speech

Jobs and Professions

Indonesian Holidays

Videos

Learn Indonesian - Greetings - YouTube

Other Lessons

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