Ways to say it
| Indonesian | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| selamat tinggal | /səˈlamat ˈtiŋɡal/ (Standard Indonesian, word by word) | |
| dag | ||
| bye | ||
| bye-bye | slang |
The phrase selamat tinggal means goodbye or farewell. It is typically used when parting ways with someone for a longer period or possibly forever. In casual, everyday Indonesian conversations, the English loanword bye is also commonly used.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase selamat tinggal literally means "safe stay" or "safe remaining".
Which one should you use?
There is a specific distinction in how you use different forms of goodbye in Indonesian. Use selamat tinggal when you are the one leaving and the listener is the one staying. In contrast, if the listener is the one departing or traveling, you should use selamat jalan. Additionally, while selamat tinggal is for leaving, selamat datang is the standard way to say welcome.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
selamat tinggal is the standard form. For a very informal, colloquial style often used by children or in very casual settings, you can use the slang term bye-bye. The loanword bye is also a common casual option. The term dag is archaic.
How do you pronounce it?
/səˈlamat ˈtiŋɡal/
When do people say it?
When leaving a gathering or an event to express the intention of taking leave politely, the concept of pamit is used. For casual departures among friends or close colleagues, you might use the informal term dadah, which is similar to saying "bye" or "see you later".
Did you know?
- Because selamat tinggal implies a long or permanent separation, using it in a casual daily context can sound unexpectedly dramatic or sad to a native speaker.
- Because selamat comes from Arabic, it shares a linguistic cousin with the English word 'salutations' and the concept of 'peace'.
- The concept of pamit is a vital social etiquette where you do not just leave, but formally ask for permission to depart from a group.
Examples in context
- Aku belum mengucapkan selamat tinggal.I haven't said goodbye yet.This sentence is useful for practicing the use of selamat tinggal in a negative statement.Tatoeba #10970030 by HAGNi, translation #10611659 by DJ_Saidez
- Tom tidak pernah mengatakan selamat tinggal.Tom never even said goodbye.Tatoeba #3478033 by lewis, translation #3477938 by CK
- Dia tersenyum dan mengatakan selamat tinggal.She smiled and said goodbye.This sentence is useful for practicing the use of selamat tinggal in a positive statement.Tatoeba #5017996 by Bilmanda, translation #316602 by CK
- 2 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Budi is leaving Putri's house after a visit.
- BudiAku pulang sekarang ya.I am going home now.
- BudiHati-hati di jalan, Budi.Be careful on the road, Budi.
- MayaTerima kasih, Putri. Selamat tinggal!Thank you, Putri. Goodbye!
- BudiSampai jumpa lagi!See you again!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “goodbye” translations and entries selamat tinggal, dag, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- 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.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
