Silakan

Silakan is an Indonesian and Malay polite imperative used to invite someone to take an action or to grant permission. It expresses encouragement to proceed and can be translated as “please go ahead,” “feel free,” or “you may.”

In daily use, silakan typically appears at the beginning of a sentence and does not require an explicit subject. It is commonly employed in hospitality, customer service, and formal or semi-formal interactions to acknowledge the other person’s autonomy while offering an option or invitation. Examples include “Silakan masuk” (Please come in), “Silakan duduk” (Please sit down), and “Silakan memilih” (Please choose).

Etymology and related forms: the word is derived from the Malay-Indonesian root sila or silakan, formed with the addition of a suffix that reinforces politeness and permission. It is closely related to other polite expressions such as “mohon” (please) and to the Malay word “sila,” which serves a similar function in more casual contexts. The register of silakan tends to be neutral to formal and is widely understood across Indonesian and Malaysian Indonesian-speaking communities.

Usage notes: while silakan is versatile, overuse in casual speech can sound overly formal in some contexts. In very informal conversation, speakers may opt for simpler forms or substitute expressions depending on regional norms. Silakan remains a standard, widely recognized politeness marker in Indonesian and Malay.

See also: sila, mohon, permisi, bahasa Indonesia, bahasa Melayu.