Salam
/ˈsalam/
The English phrase "greetings" is translated into Indonesian as Salam.
Salam is used to say "greetings" and is often used in written correspondence, formal speeches or religious contexts to convey a sense of peace and respect. Other formal time-based greetings include Selamat pagi (Good morning, used from early morning until around 9 a.m.), Selamat siang (Good afternoon, used from around 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.), Selamat sore (Good evening, used from around 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.), and Selamat malam (Good evening / Good night, used in the late afternoon, evening and night).
Meaning: formal way of saying "hello" (intj)
What does it mean word for word?
The word Salam literally means "peace" or "salutation".
Which one should you use?
While Salam is formal and carries a sense of respect or weight, Halo is the standard, neutral and more common way to say "Hello".
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Salam is a formal and more dignified way to greet someone compared to common colloquialisms. For casual situations, you can use Hai (Hi / Hey), Halo (Hello) or Ada kabar? (What's up? / Any news?).
Did you know?
- The word salam is a linguistic 'chameleon' that can actually refer to three completely different things: a religious greeting, a type of plum tree, or even a bay leaf, depending on its etymological roots.
- In many Indonesian social circles, a salam is not just a word but a physical handshake where the palms are pressed together and then brought toward the heart.
Examples in context
- Salam kepadamu dari Aljazair yang cerah.Greetings to you from sunny Algeria.Tatoeba #10675228 by HAGNi, translation #9967723 by Amastan
- Salam!Greetings!Tatoeba #4556828 by dbahasa, translation #1130106 by cntrational
- Selamat pagi, Pak Budi. Apa kabar?Good morning, Mr. Budi. How are you?
- Selamat siang, Ibu Anita. Apakah boleh saya bertanya?Good afternoon, Mrs. Anita. May I ask something?
- Selamat sore, Bapak Ari. Bagaimana hari Anda?Good evening, Mr. Ari. How's your day?
- Hai, apa kabar?Hi, how are you?
- Halo, teman-teman! Sudah lama tidak bertemu.Hello, friends! Long time no see.
- Apa kabar, Mas Dodi? Sudah lama tidak jumpa.How are you, brother Dodi? It's been a while since we last met.
- Salam hangat untuk keluarga Anda.Warm greetings to your family.
Example conversation
Putri and Rian meet at a professional conference.
- PutriSalam, Pak Rian. Apa kabar?Greetings, Mr. Rian. How are you?
- RianKabar baik, Ibu Putri. Terima kasih.I am well, Ms. Putri. Thank you.
- PutriSenang bertemu dengan Anda hari ini.It is nice to meet you today.
- RianSaya juga senang bertemu Anda.I am also glad to meet you.
Sources
- Pronunciation from the Wiktionary entry salam.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries salam, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
