selamat tinggal
/səˈlamat ˈtiŋɡal/word by word
The English phrase "bye" is translated into Malay as selamat tinggal.
Meaning: short for goodbye (intj)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase literally means "safe stay" or "safe remain".
Which one should you use?
While selamat tinggal is used when leaving, the phrase selamat datang is used to welcome someone.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
In casual settings, Malay speakers often simply use the English word "bye" instead of the formal selamat tinggal.
How do you pronounce it?
/səˈlamat ˈtiŋɡal/
Did you know?
- Because selamat is derived from the Arabic salāma, it shares an ancestral connection with the English word 'salute' and the name 'Salam'.
- While selamat tinggal is used when the speaker is leaving, if you are the one staying and the other person is leaving, you should say selamat jalan, which means 'safe journey'.
- Because the phrase selamat tinggal implies a 'safe stay', it can sometimes sound like a permanent farewell, similar to 'farewell' in English.
Examples in context
- Dia berkata selamat tinggal kepada ibunya.She said goodbye to her mother.
- Selamat tinggal dan semoga berjaya!Goodbye and good luck!
Example conversation
Aishah and Muhammad are parting ways after a meeting.
- AishahSaya sudah sampai ke rumah.I have arrived home.
- MuhammadBaiklah, selamat tinggal Aishah.Alright, goodbye Aishah.
- AishahSelamat tinggal, Muhammad.Goodbye, Muhammad.
- MuhammadJumpa lagi nanti!See you later!
Sources
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (selamat, tinggal) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries selamat, tinggal, CC BY-SA 4.0.
