EVERYDAY CONNECTIONSundanese Greetings: Hello, Introductions, and Goodbyes
A good greeting in Sundanese is more than a direct translation of hello. The traditional sampurasun expects a reply, time-of-day greetings follow a wilujeng pattern, and polite or casual word choice shapes what sounds natural.
Related guides: Basic Sundanese phrases, Thank you in Sundanese, and Sundanese speech levels.
Sampurasun and rampés
Sampurasun is the traditional greeting, and the expected reply is rampés. Many learners start with this pair because it works across ages and settings. Wilujeng sumping welcomes a guest.
Time-of-day greetings
Time-of-day greetings follow the pattern wilujeng plus a time word. Polite speech uses énjing for morning and wengi for night, while casual speech uses isuk and peuting. Sonten covers the afternoon and evening in polite speech.
Introductions with respect
In polite speech, say abdi for I and anjeun for you. To introduce yourself, the natural pattern is Nami abdi plus your name, and bingah tepang sareng anjeun means pleased to meet you.
Sampurasun. Nami abdi Lea.
Hello. My name is Lea.Rampés. Nami abdi Ben. Bingah tepang sareng anjeun.
Hello. My name is Ben. Pleased to meet you.Abdi ogé bingah tepang sareng anjeun.
I am pleased to meet you too.Saying goodbye
A person who is leaving often asks permission to go first, and the other person replies with mangga. Wilujeng angkat wishes someone a safe trip.
Sundanese greetings FAQ
How do you say hello in Sundanese?
Sampurasun is the traditional greeting, and the usual reply is rampés. Many people also greet with the time of day, such as Wilujeng énjing for good morning.
What does wilujeng mean?
Wilujeng means safe and well, and it begins many greetings and good wishes: wilujeng sumping (welcome), wilujeng énjing (good morning), and wilujeng angkat (have a safe trip).
How do you greet an elder in Sundanese?
Use sampurasun or a polite time-of-day greeting, abdi for I and anjeun for you, and a respectful tone. Add punten when you pass in front of someone or interrupt.
References and free Sundanese resources
Use this article as a practical starting point, then verify vocabulary, explore the grammar in depth, and compare what you hear from proficient speakers in your community.