Makan dulu means "eat first": makan is "to eat" and dulu is "first" or "before anything else". Indonesians say it to invite you to eat, to excuse themselves to go and eat, and as a reflex when they see anyone near food. It is one of the first phrases you will hear in a home, an office or a warung, and the answer to it is a small lesson in Indonesian manners.
It is pronounced MAH-kahn DOO-loo, four short, even syllables.
Here is the quick version, then each use with examples.
- An invitation: Makan dulu, yuk. (Come on, let's eat first.)
- Excusing yourself: Aku makan dulu ya. (I'm going to eat first, okay.)
- A greeting over food: Makan dulu! (Eat! Join us!)
- The polite reply: Silakan. (Go ahead.) or Makasih, udah. (Thanks, I've eaten.)
- The pattern: dulu after any verb means "do this first".
1. Makan dulu as an invitation
The most common use. When food is on the table and you walk in, someone will say makan dulu. It means "eat before you do anything else", and it is sincere: in Indonesia, offering food is how you welcome someone.
- Makan dulu, yuk. Let's eat first.
- Ayo makan dulu, nanti dingin. Come eat first, it'll get cold.
- Makan dulu, baru kerja. Eat first, then work.
Yuk and ayo both mean "come on" or "let's". Baru here means "only then", not "new": a neat word to know, because makan dulu, baru ngobrol (eat first, then talk) is the usual order of an Indonesian visit.
2. Makan dulu to excuse yourself
Add aku or saya and ya and the same phrase means "I'm off to eat". It is how a colleague leaves their desk and how a friend ends a chat.
- Aku makan dulu ya. I'm going to eat first, okay.
- Saya makan dulu, Pak. I'll eat first, sir. (To a boss or an older man.)
- Makan dulu bentar. Just eating for a sec.
Ya at the end softens it into "okay?" and bentar (from sebentar) means "a moment". Nobody will ask you to stay; eating is a good reason to leave anything.
3. Makan dulu as a greeting
Walk past someone eating and they will say makan dulu! or just makan! with a wave at their plate. This one is not really an invitation. It is a courtesy, the eating equivalent of "hello", and it is rude to ignore it and rude to actually sit down and eat their lunch.
The right reply is silakan (go ahead, please), or makasih, udah (thanks, I've eaten), or duluan aja (you go first). Then you keep walking. If they press a second time, ayo, serius, that is a real invitation.
We cover this ritual in our podcast episode Nasi itu wajib, on why rice is compulsory in Indonesia, and in Makan pakai tangan, on eating with your hands. Both are read by a native speaker with English captions and a full transcript.
4. How to answer makan dulu
| They say | You say | It means | |---|---|---| | Makan dulu, yuk. | Yuk. / Ayo. | Yes, let's. | | Makan dulu! (over their plate) | Silakan. | Go ahead, enjoy. | | Makan dulu! | Makasih, udah. | Thanks, I've eaten. | | Aku makan dulu ya. | Oke, selamat makan. | Okay, enjoy your meal. | | Udah makan? | Udah. / Belum. | Already. / Not yet. |
That last line is the one learners get wrong most. Udah makan? (eaten yet?) is a greeting, not a survey, and it takes udah or belum, never ya or tidak. Our guide to udah, sudah and belum explains why.
5. Dulu after other verbs
Dulu is the useful half of this phrase. Put it after almost any verb and it means "do this first" or "for now". Once you hear the pattern you will hear it everywhere.
- Mandi dulu. Shower first. (Indonesians do this twice a day; see our episode on mandi dua kali sehari.)
- Tunggu dulu. Wait a moment. / Hang on.
- Lihat dulu. Let me see first.
- Pikir dulu. Let me think about it.
- Duluan ya. I'll go ahead. (Said when you leave before the others.)
- Permisi dulu. Excuse me, I'll be off.
Dulu also means "in the past" at the start of a sentence: Dulu aku tinggal di Bali (I used to live in Bali). Same word, different job; the position tells you which.
Common mistakes
Sitting down when a stranger says makan dulu. Over their own plate it is a courtesy. Say silakan and move on, unless they insist.
Answering makan dulu with "no thanks". Nggak, makasih sounds like a refusal of hospitality. Makasih, udah (thanks, I've eaten) does the same job without the sting.
Hearing dulu as "formerly" every time. After a verb it means "first". Only at the front of a sentence does it mean "in the past".
Skipping the food to be polite. When a host says makan dulu in their home, eating is the polite thing. Refusing is the awkward one.
FAQ
What does makan dulu mean in English?
"Eat first". Indonesians say it to invite you to eat, to excuse themselves to go and eat, or as a friendly courtesy when you pass them eating.
How do you reply to makan dulu?
If it is a real invitation, yuk (let's) or makasih (thanks). If it is a courtesy over someone's own plate, silakan (go ahead) or makasih, udah (thanks, I've eaten).
What does dulu mean?
After a verb, "first" or "for now": tunggu dulu (wait a moment). At the start of a sentence, "in the past": dulu aku di Jakarta (I used to be in Jakarta).
What does udah makan mean?
"Have you eaten yet?" It is a greeting as much as a question, and the answer is udah (yes, already) or belum (not yet).
Is makan dulu polite?
Yes. Offering food is a basic courtesy in Indonesia, and saying makan dulu to a guest is expected. Between friends it is casual; with elders add Pak or Bu and use silakan makan dulu.
Learn the phrases, then the culture behind them
Two words, five situations, and a reply that depends on whose plate it is. That is normal for everyday Indonesian, and it is why a word list on its own never quite works.
Every JADI lesson is written by Yohana, a native Indonesian teacher, around the sentences people actually say, with audio for each one and spaced repetition so they stay. If you are just starting, our beginner's guide to learning Indonesian is the place to begin. The first 6 lesson days are free.
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