Greetings In Brunei: Welcoming Guests With Warmth And Culture

Greeting someone in a new language can be daunting, but it's a great way to break the ice with locals and immerse yourself in a new culture. Brunei has a rich history and is a melting pot for international languages, so there are several ways to say 'welcome' or 'hello'. The official language of Brunei is Standard Malay, but English is widely spoken, too.

Greeting Muslims with 'assalamualaikum'

Greeting Muslims with "assalamualaikum" is a respectful way to say hello in Brunei. The phrase is an Arabic greeting that means "peace be upon you", and is commonly used by Muslims worldwide. The response to this greeting is "wa alaikum assalaam" or "mualaikumsalam", meaning "and upon you be peace" or "peace also be with you".

"Assalamualaikum" is a formal and respectful greeting, demonstrating deference to the person you are greeting. It is suitable to use when entering or leaving a gathering, just as "hello" and "goodbye" are used in English. The greeting is often used by Muslims to greet each other, but it is also acceptable for non-Muslims to use, especially in Saudi Arabia and Europe. However, in Malaysia, it is considered disrespectful for non-Muslims to use this greeting, as it is seen as a religious greeting containing the name of God.

When greeting in Brunei, it is important to be mindful of cultural and religious customs. Bruneians are very polite and well-mannered, and it is customary to greet with respect, especially to those who are older or of higher status. Greetings should be formal and demonstrate respect. It is also customary to bow your head when greeting someone senior to you in age or position.

In addition to "assalamualaikum", there are other ways to say hello in Brunei. At different times of the day, you can say "selamat pagi" (good morning), "selamat petang" (good afternoon), and "selamat malam" (good evening). "Apa khabar" is used in formal settings to mean "how are you?", while "apa abarnya" is the informal version. Greeting someone with "makan sudah?" (have you eaten?) is also common and is equivalent to asking "how are you?".

Morning, afternoon and evening greetings: 'selamat pagi', 'selamat petang', and 'selamat malam'

Morning, afternoon and evening greetings: "selamat pagi", "selamat petang", and "selamat malam"

Greeting people in Brunei

The official language of Brunei is Standard Malay, but English is widely spoken as a business and working language. It is also the language of instruction in secondary and tertiary education. Other languages spoken in Brunei include Chinese, Indian and Native languages spoken by the minority ethnic groups.

When greeting people in Brunei, it is important to consider the ethnic origin and age of the person. Generally, men have adopted the western concept of shaking hands, although this is not always the case with older people or women. Ethnic Malay men shake hands with one another, but traditionally men and women do not shake hands. Younger people may shake hands with foreign women or they may simply bow their head in greeting. It is considered respectful to bow your head when greeting someone who is senior to you in age or position.

Morning greeting: "selamat pagi"

In the morning, you would greet someone by saying "selamat pagi", which translates to "good morning" in English. This greeting is used from 5:00 a.m. to 11:59 a.m.

Afternoon greeting: "selamat petang"

In the afternoon, the appropriate greeting is "selamat petang", which means "good afternoon" in English. This greeting is used from 12:00 p.m. to 5:59 p.m.

Evening greeting: "selamat malam"

In the evening, you would say "selamat malam", which translates to "good evening" or "good night" in English. This greeting is used from 6:00 p.m. onwards.

Other greetings

In addition to these time-specific greetings, there are other common greetings in Brunei. "Apa khabar" is used in formal settings to ask how someone is doing, while "apa abarnya" is used informally. "Makan sudah?" (Have you eaten?) is also a common greeting, equivalent to asking "how are you?".

Greeting people of the opposite sex with a bow

Greeting people of the opposite sex in Brunei is a little different from what you might be used to. If you're a visitor, it's recommended that you place your right hand over your heart and give a small bow when meeting someone of the opposite sex. Shaking hands across genders is rare in Brunei. This is because it is taboo for Malays and religiously observant Muslims to touch people of the opposite gender.

If you're a businesswoman in Brunei, it's recommended that you nod your head in greeting to a Bruneian man. If you're a foreign businessman, it's best to wait to see if a Bruneian woman extends her hand first.

When greeting someone in Brunei, it's also important to remember that the common greeting depends on the ethnic origin and age of the person. For example, ethnic Malay men shake hands with one another, but men and women do not traditionally shake hands. Younger Bruneians may be more likely to shake hands with foreign women, or they may simply bow their heads in greeting.

It's also considered respectful to bow your head when greeting someone who is senior to you in age or position. This is also the case when greeting someone in a position of importance, such as a member of the royal family.

In general, Bruneians are very polite and well-mannered. They are also indirect communicators and tend to avoid eye contact, particularly with people who are senior to them in age or status. This is because they want to avoid causing anyone to lose face or feel embarrassed.

Greeting elders with a bow

Brunei is a hierarchical culture, where age and position are revered. As such, it is considered respectful to bow your head when greeting someone who is senior to you in age or position. This is especially important when greeting elders. While the younger generation in Brunei may have adopted the Western custom of shaking hands, it is still common to bow the head as a greeting. This is true for both men and women, though men may also shake hands with each other.

When greeting elders, it is also important to note that it is considered disrespectful to stare into their eyes. It is best to respectfully lower or avert your gaze, even if only for a moment.

If you are visiting Brunei, it is worth noting that the official language is Standard Malay. However, English is widely spoken as a business and working language, and is used in secondary and tertiary education. Greeting elders in Malay is a great way to break the ice and show respect. Here are some useful phrases:

• 'Assalamualaikum' means 'peace be upon you' in Arabic and is a respectful greeting. The response to this is 'mualaikumsalam', which means 'peace also be with you'.
• 'Selamat pagi' means 'good morning'.
• 'Selamat petang' means 'good afternoon'.
• 'Selamat malam' means 'good evening'.

In addition to these greetings, it is also common to ask 'apa khabar', which means 'how are you?' in a formal setting.

While greeting elders with a bow is generally respectful in Brunei, it is important to note that in the Islamic religion, which is practised by a majority of the population, there are differing views on bowing to anyone other than Allah. According to some scholars, it is not permissible to bow when meeting anyone, as it is seen as an act of worship that should be reserved for God.

Greeting in formal settings with 'apa khabar'

Greeting someone in a foreign language can be nerve-wracking, especially in a formal setting. Here are some tips on how to greet people in Brunei using the phrase "apa khabar", which is used in formal settings.

The Basics

"Apa khabar" is a Malay phrase that means "how are you?" in English. It is used in formal settings in Brunei and is a respectful way to greet someone. The phrase is made up of the word "apa", which is a question word in Malay meaning "what", and "khabar", which means "news". When used together, the phrase figuratively translates to "how are you?"

Pronunciation

To pronounce "apa khabar" like a local, it helps to break down the phrase. "Apa" is pronounced similarly to the English word "upper", while "khabar" sounds like the English words "car" and "bar" put together. So, to greet someone in Brunei, you would say "upper car-bar".

Body Language

In Brunei, it is considered disrespectful and rude to stare into the eyes of a person who is senior to you in age or status. Instead, it is respectful to bow your head when greeting someone who is your senior or superior. When greeting a Bruneian of the opposite sex, it is customary to place your right hand over your heart and give a small bow.

Greeting Protocol

In Brunei, the common greeting depends on the ethnic origin and age of the person. Generally, men have adopted the Western custom of shaking hands, although older men and women may not shake hands with foreigners. Younger Bruneians may shake hands with foreign women or simply bow their heads in greeting.

When greeting a group of people, it is important to greet the eldest person first. It is also customary to introduce the most important person on your team first and to greet older businesspeople before younger ones.

Additional Greetings

In addition to "apa khabar", there are other greetings you can use in Brunei depending on the time of day:

• "Selamat pagi" (good morning)
• "Selamat petang" (good afternoon)
• "Selamat malam" (good evening)

So, the next time you're in Brunei, remember to greet your elders with a respectful "apa khabar" and a small bow.

Frequently asked questions