hai apa khabar
/hai̯ ˈapə ˈxaba(r)/word by word
In Malay, the phrase for "hi how are you" is hai apa khabar.
The phrase is a common way to say hello and inquire about someone's well-being. The core of the greeting, apa khabar, functions as the equivalent of "How are you?" in English.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase apa khabar literally translates to "what news". The word khabar is a noun meaning news or information.
How does it change in a sentence?
The word khabar serves as a noun meaning news or information.
How do you pronounce it?
/hai̯ ˈapə ˈxaba(r)/
When do people say it?
When someone asks apa khabar?, most people respond with the simple phrase khabar baik, which means "I'm fine". The word baik itself means "good" or "well".
Did you know?
- While hai is common among peers, in traditional Malay culture, a greeting is often accompanied by a salam, a gentle touch of the palms and then bringing the hand to the heart.
- The word apa shares a common ancestor with the word aha used in the Māori language of New Zealand.
- While the phrase hai apa khabar is common today, the word hai is actually a modern adaptation. It was heavily influenced by the English 'hi' and has only been part of popular Malay greetings since the 1980s.
Example conversation
Farah and Ahmad meet at a cafe.
- FarahHai apa khabar, Ahmad?Hi, how are you, Ahmad?
- AhmadKhabar baik, Farah. Awak pula?I'm fine, Farah. And you?
- FarahSaya pun khabar baik, terima kasih.I'm also doing well, thank you.
- AhmadBaguslah kalau begitu.That's good then.
