Indonesian · A1 (Beginner)
Greetings in Indonesian: Words & Phrases
Quick answer: The most useful Indonesian words for greetings are Halo (Hello (informal)), Selamat tinggal (Goodbye (said to person staying)) and Selamat pagi (Good morning (before noon)). The full Indonesian greetings phrase list with example sentences is below.
The essential Indonesian vocabulary for greetings, with example sentences and English translations. This is A1 (Beginner) material — exactly the kind of practical language you need when you're learning Indonesian to live, work, or settle abroad.
Source: Language Lab's Indonesian curriculum (vocabulary & example sentences). · Join the beta →
Key greetings vocabulary
| Indonesian | English |
|---|---|
| Halo | Hello (informal) |
| Selamat tinggal | Goodbye (said to person staying) |
| Selamat pagi | Good morning (before noon) |
| Terima kasih | Thank you |
| Sama-sama | You're welcome |
| Nama saya | My name is |
| Senang bertemu Anda | Nice to meet you |
| Permisi | Excuse me |
| Sampai jumpa | See you again |
| Selamat malam | Good evening / Good night |
Example sentences
Halo, apa kabar?
Hello, how are you?
Selamat tinggal, sampai besok!
Goodbye, see you tomorrow!
Selamat pagi, Bu Sari.
Good morning, Mrs Sari.
Terima kasih banyak, Anda sangat baik.
Thank you very much, you are very kind.
Sama-sama.
You're welcome.
Nama saya Budi. Nama Anda siapa?
My name is Budi. What is your name?
How to actually learn these
Reading a vocabulary list is not the same as being able to use the words when it counts. Research on adult language acquisition consistently shows that vocabulary retained through contextual use — hearing a word, producing it under mild pressure, and being corrected when you get it wrong — transfers to real speech far more effectively than passive list review. The fastest way to make vocabulary like this stick is to practise it in the actual conversations where it comes up: not drills, but a real back-and-forth where you have to retrieve the word and say it aloud. Language Lab turns vocabulary like this into voiced, real-life scenarios with Sonia, a live AI language tutor who holds real conversations, corrects you in context, and remembers the specific words you keep getting wrong across sessions. The vocabulary stops being something you read and becomes something you say — automatically, under pressure, when you actually need it.
Practice Indonesian that actually sticks.
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