hai
/hai̯/
Hi in Malay is hai. Wiktionary also lists salam.
Meaning: friendly, informal greeting (intj)
Ways to say it
| Malay | IPA |
|---|---|
| hai | /hai̯/ |
| salam |
hai is a friendly, informal greeting.
Which one should you use?
While hai is a casual, Westernized greeting, salam is a more formal and culturally respectful greeting often used in religious or polite contexts.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
hai is an informal greeting used primarily among friends or in casual settings, mirroring the English 'hi'.
How do you pronounce it?
/hai̯/
When do people say it?
When greeting elders or officials, it is customary to accompany the greeting with a slight nod or placing your right hand over your heart to show respect.
Did you know?
- In some traditional contexts, the greeting salam refers not just to the word but to the physical act of the 'salam' handshake, where the younger person touches the elder's hand to their own forehead.
- The informal hai is actually a shortened version of the older, more emotive words wahai or duhai, which were once used to call out to someone with deep feeling.
- Depending on the region, salam is often used as a shorthand for the full Arabic greeting Assalamu alaikum, meaning 'peace be upon you'.
Examples in context
- Hai, tengah buat apa ni?Hi, whatcha doing?
- Selamat pagiGood morning
- Selamat petangGood evening
- Hai bro!Hey bro!
- Apa khabar bro?How are you bro?
- Apa kabar?How are you?
- Apa khabar kawan?How are you friend?
- Selamat maju jaya!All the best!
- Hai, selamat pagi!Hi, good morning!
- Hai, apa khabar?Hi, how are you?
Example conversation
Ahmad sees Aishah at a local cafe.
- AhmadHai, Aishah!Hi, Aishah!
- AishahHai, Ahmad.Hi, Ahmad.
- AhmadDah lama tak jumpa.Long time no see.
- AishahBetul tu, sihat?That's true, are you well?
Sources
- Wiktionary, “hi” translations and entries hai, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries hai, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Wiktionary CC BY-SA 4.0.
