After finishing our morning tasks then we prepare for the next duty within a day. you might have a meeting with your colleagues or your business partners or even having lunch with your Indonesian friends and you should greet them when you meet. For afternoon greet In Bahasa Indonesia, we say “Selamat Siang” or “Selamat Sore”.
The greeting is one of opening speech when you meet people and it is common in all languages. In Bahasa Indonesia, it is easier to say greetings since it begins by saying “Selamat” and you add adverb of time after that, that’s it! Even sometimes there is another kind of greetings in Indonesia using Arabic language since Indonesia have many Islamic populations but using word “Selamat’ is more common.
Good afternoon in Bahasa Indonesia can be used in two kind periods of times, it is also can be said for two different words but actually have the same meaning.
There are some examples using “selamat sore” when you greet people:
- Good Afternoon:
Selamat siang! (se’la’mat-si’ang) (sounds like: “suh-lah-mat see-ahng”)
Time frame: 10.00 a.m. until around 4 p.m. - Selamat sore! (se’la’mat-so’re) (sounds like: “suh-lah-mat sor-ee”)
Time frame: from 4 p.m. until around 6 or 7 p.m. (depending on daylight) - Selamat petang! (se’la’ peh’tang’) (sounds like: “suh-lah-mat peh-tang”)
Time Frame: from 4 p.m. until around 6 or 7 p.m. (depending on daylight)
Here is more Indonesian Phrases Basic to learn:
- How to Say Goodnight in Indonesian Language
- How to say Hello in Indonesian
- How to say Please in Bahasa Indonesia
Saying “selamat siang” and “selamat sore” is clearly simple as you say “selamat pagi” for good morning and “selamat malam” for good night or evening. You can use in formal or informal conversation but we should be aware when using “selamat siang” and “selamat sore” in term of time.
Using “selamat sore” are more common instead of “selamat petang” to say greeting at 4 p.m.until 7 p.m. and it is already rare we find Indonesian people saying that greetings term.
There are some examples using “selamat sore” when you greet people:
- Good afternoon, friends –> Selamat sore, teman-teman.
- Hello, good afternoon, how are you today? –> Halo, selamat sore, apa kabarmu hari ini?
- Good afternoon, sir. It is nice to meet you –> Selamat sore, Pak. Senang bertemu dengan anda.
How to say Good Afternoon in Indonesian Language? It is simple, isn’t? Even “selamat siang” and “selamat sore” both are using in formal and informal terms but sometimes for a daily conversation we only use the time phrase just like “siang” and “sore” to greet people. It’s only to shorten the term and make it simple, and Indonesian people whom you talk to will understand.
To make us fluent in pronouncing greetings in Bahasa Indonesia, it is better to learn about the time frame first and then when you already understand and remember the terms, it will be easier for us to use in daily conversation. But most of all, keep practicing how to pronounce them.
For more information about greetings, you can also check on other articles such as Indonesian greeting etiquette and How to say goodnight in Indonesia Language and related links about greetings.