Indonesian Greetings for Every Time of Day
Updated June 28, 2026
Indonesian greetings change with the time of day, and getting them right is the fastest way to sound polite and natural. Here are the greetings you will hear in the opening minutes of almost any Indonesian show.
| Indonesian | English |
|---|---|
| selamat pagi | good morninguntil about 11am |
| selamat siang | good dayaround midday |
| selamat sore | good afternoonlate afternoon |
| selamat malam | good evening, good night |
| halo | hellocasual, any time |
| apa kabar? | how are you? |
| salam kenal | nice to meet you |
Want these to stick? Hear them in real context: LingoBinge surfaces words like these while you watch Indonesian shows on Netflix, and saves them for spaced review.
Hear them in: The Big 4, A Perfect Fit.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the difference between selamat siang and selamat sore?
- Selamat siang is used around midday, while selamat sore is the late afternoon greeting before evening. After dark you switch to selamat malam.
More Indonesian vocabulary guides
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