Welcome in Indonesian is selamat datang (suh-LAH-mat DAH-tahng), literally "safe arrival". It is on the sign at the airport and it is what a host says at the door. You're welcome, the reply to thank you, is a different phrase: sama-sama (SAH-mah SAH-mah), "same to you". English uses one word for both; Indonesian never does, and mixing them is one of the most common beginner slips.
Here is the quick version, then each one with examples.
- Selamat datang: welcome (to a place). Selamat datang di Bali. Welcome to Bali.
- Sama-sama: you're welcome (after thanks). Makasih. Sama-sama.
- Kembali / terima kasih kembali: you're welcome, formal. Hotels, offices.
- Sip, oke, santai: sure, no worries. The casual replies to thanks.
- Silakan masuk: please come in. What usually follows selamat datang at a door.
1. Selamat datang: welcome to a place
Selamat (safe, blessed) plus datang (arrive). It takes di (at, in) before a place, and ke is wrong here even though English says "to". A host says it at the door, a city says it on a sign, an emcee says it to a room.
- Selamat datang di Indonesia! Welcome to Indonesia!
- Selamat datang di rumah kami. Welcome to our home.
- Selamat datang, silakan masuk. Welcome, please come in.
- Selamat datang kembali. Welcome back.
The reply is terima kasih or makasih, then permisi as you step inside. See thank you in Indonesian for the forms.
2. Sama-sama: you're welcome
Sama means "same", and doubled it means "likewise". It is the universal answer to terima kasih and makasih, used by everyone to everyone. There is no need to search for anything more elaborate.
- Makasih ya. Sama-sama. Thanks. You're welcome.
- Terima kasih banyak, Bu. Sama-sama, Pak. Thank you very much, ma'am. You're welcome, sir.
In formal service settings you will also hear kembali (literally "return") or terima kasih kembali (thank you in return). Among friends the reply is often just sip (sure), oke, santai (relax) or nggak apa-apa (it's nothing).
3. Welcome as "you may": silakan
Where English says "you're welcome to sit anywhere" or "welcome to try it", Indonesian uses silakan (go ahead, please): silakan duduk di mana saja, silakan dicoba. Our page on please in Indonesian covers silakan and its relatives.
4. Welcoming someone back, and welcoming a baby
Selamat datang kembali is welcome back, for a colleague returning from leave or a customer returning to a shop. For a newborn, the same word: selamat datang di dunia (welcome to the world). For a new colleague or member, selamat bergabung (welcome aboard, literally "happy joining").
Common mistakes
Selamat datang as the reply to thank you. It means "welcome to this place". The reply to makasih is sama-sama.
Selamat datang ke Bali. The preposition is di: selamat datang di Bali.
Sama-sama as "welcome" at the door. That is selamat datang.
Overthinking the reply. Sama-sama is enough in every situation. There is no stiff-formal version you are missing, other than kembali from staff.
FAQ
How do you say welcome in Indonesian?
Selamat datang, followed by di and the place: selamat datang di Jakarta.
How do you say you're welcome in Indonesian?
Sama-sama. Formally, kembali or terima kasih kembali. Casually, sip or oke.
What does sama-sama mean?
Literally "same-same" or "likewise". It is the standard reply to thank you.
What is the difference between selamat datang and sama-sama?
Selamat datang welcomes someone to a place. Sama-sama answers a thank you. English "welcome" covers both; Indonesian keeps them apart.
How do you say welcome back in Indonesian?
Selamat datang kembali.
The phrases that English folds together
Welcome and you're welcome are one word in English and two in Indonesian; please is one in English and four in Indonesian. These are the places where learning from translation goes wrong, and they are what JADI's lessons are built around. Our list of 50 basic Indonesian phrases gives the textbook form and the spoken form for each.
Every JADI lesson is written by Yohana, a native Indonesian teacher, with audio for every sentence and spaced repetition so it stays. The first 6 lesson days are free.
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