selamat

Selamat is a word used in Indonesian and Malay languages meaning safe, secure, or unharmed. It also functions as a general wish for well-being and is commonly found in greetings and expressions of good wishes across Southeast Asia. The term is widely used in both secular and religious contexts.

Selamat derives from the Arabic root salāmah, meaning safety, peace, or welfare, transmitted into Malay and Indonesian through historical contact and trade. In Malay and Indonesian, it has come to denote not only safety but also felicitation and auspiciousness in social interactions.

Common usages: as a greeting or well-wishing prefix, such as selamat pagi (good morning), selamat siang, selamat sore (good afternoon), selamat malam (good evening); selamat datang (welcome); selamat jalan (safe travels); selamat ulang tahun (happy birthday); selamat Hari Raya (season's greetings); selamat tinggal (goodbye, farewell). The exact form of time-based greetings varies by country and region (for example selamat petang in Malaysia indicates evening).

Selamat is also used as a given name in Indonesia, Malaysia, and Brunei, where it may be used for either gender in some communities. It appears in personal names and religious or cultural titles, reflecting the sense of safety, peace, or auspiciousness attached to the term.