selamat malam
/səˈlamat ˈmalam/word by word
The English phrase "good night" is translated into Malay as selamat malam.
selamat malam is used as a farewell salutation. While it is most commonly used when parting, it also serves as the standard way to say "good evening" when greeting someone in many contexts.
Meaning: a farewell (phrase)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of selamat, which means "safe" or "blessed" and malam, which means "night". Literally, the phrase translates to "safe night".
Which one should you use?
Unlike English, where "good night" is almost exclusively a farewell, selamat malam can function as both a greeting (good evening) and a farewell (good night) in Malay.
How do you pronounce it?
/səˈlamat ˈmalam/
Did you know?
- The word selamat is borrowed from the Arabic word salāma, which relates to peace and safety.
- While selamat malam is standard, some speakers may use the phrase mimpi indah to specifically mean 'sweet dreams'.
- The word selamat is used in many Malay greetings, such as selamat datang (welcome) or selamat jalan (safe journey), all sharing this root of 'safety' or 'well-being'.
Examples in context
- Selamat malam.Good night!This sentence is useful for seeing how to use selamat malam as a parting salutation.Tatoeba #1476536 by Adou_Fr, translation #426950 by Pun_intended
- Selamat Malam, Tuan. Semoga tidur nyenyak.Good night, sir. May you have a peaceful sleep.
- Malam, adik. Tidurlah lelap malam ini.Good night, little sibling. Have a sound sleep tonight.
- Malam. Terima kasih, kakak.Good night. Thank you, big sister.
- Selamat malam kepada semua.Good night to everyone.
- Selamat malam, tidur nyenyak!Good night, sleep well!
Example conversation
Farah and Muhammad are leaving a small gathering at night.
- FarahSaya balik dulu, selamat malam, Muhammad.I am heading back now, good night, Muhammad.
- MuhammadSelamat malam, Farah. Jumpa esok.Good night, Farah. See you tomorrow.
- FarahYa, jumpa esok.Yes, see you tomorrow.
- MuhammadHati-hati di jalan.Be careful on the road.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “good night” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (selamat, malam) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries malam, selamat, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
