Meaning
A day off from work or school.
Cultural Background
Indonesians love 'Hari Libur Kejepit' (sandwiched holidays). This refers to a single working day that falls between a holiday and the weekend. People often take 'cuti' (leave) on these days to have a long break. In Bali, 'Hari Raya Nyepi' is the ultimate 'hari libur'. The entire island shuts down, including the airport, and no one is allowed to go outside or turn on lights for 24 hours. In the capital, 'hari libur' is the only time the city's infamous traffic (macet) significantly eases, as many residents leave the city for nearby Puncak or Bandung. It is common for Indonesian employers to message employees on their 'hari libur' via WhatsApp. While changing, the boundary between work and rest is often fluid.
Drop the 'Hari'
In casual speech, just say 'Saya libur' instead of 'Saya sedang hari libur'. It sounds much more native.
Red Dates
If someone says 'Besok tanggal merah', don't look for a red fruit! They mean it's a public holiday.
Meaning
A day off from work or school.
Drop the 'Hari'
In casual speech, just say 'Saya libur' instead of 'Saya sedang hari libur'. It sounds much more native.
Red Dates
If someone says 'Besok tanggal merah', don't look for a red fruit! They mean it's a public holiday.
Greetings
There isn't a direct 'Happy Day Off' greeting. Use 'Selamat beristirahat' (Happy resting) or 'Selamat berlibur' (Happy holidaying).
Test Yourself
Fill in the blank with the correct phrase.
Besok adalah ______, jadi saya tidak pergi ke kantor.
Since the person is not going to the office, it must be a 'hari libur' (day off).
Which sentence is the most natural way to ask about a day off?
How do you ask a friend when their day off is?
'Kapan' means 'when', which is the correct question word for time.
Match the Indonesian phrase with its English meaning.
Match the following:
These are the core terms related to time and holidays.
Complete the dialogue.
A: 'Ayo kita ke mall hari ini!' B: 'Maaf, saya tidak bisa. Hari ini bukan ______ saya.'
The speaker cannot go because it is not their day off (they are likely working).
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Types of Days in Indonesia
Work/School
- • Hari Kerja
- • Senin - Jumat
- • Lembur (Overtime)
Off Days
- • Hari Libur
- • Tanggal Merah
- • Akhir Pekan
Libur vs. Liburan
Practice Bank
4 exercisesBesok adalah ______, jadi saya tidak pergi ke kantor.
Since the person is not going to the office, it must be a 'hari libur' (day off).
How do you ask a friend when their day off is?
'Kapan' means 'when', which is the correct question word for time.
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
These are the core terms related to time and holidays.
A: 'Ayo kita ke mall hari ini!' B: 'Maaf, saya tidak bisa. Hari ini bukan ______ saya.'
The speaker cannot go because it is not their day off (they are likely working).
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsNo, it can be any day you don't work. If you work on weekends and have Tuesday off, Tuesday is your 'hari libur'.
'Libur' is a general day off (like a weekend), while 'cuti' is formal leave you request from your employer.
It's grammatically correct but rare. 'Selamat berlibur' or 'Selamat berakhir pekan' (Happy weekend) is better.
Because public holidays are printed in red ink on Indonesian physical calendars.
It can function as both. 'Hari libur' (noun phrase) or 'Saya libur' (verb-like usage meaning 'I am off').
You can say 'libur panjang' or 'long weekend' (many Indonesians use the English term too).
Yes, students use 'hari libur' to describe days when there are no classes.
It refers to official public holidays recognized across the entire country.
No, for a short break during the day, use 'istirahat'.
Yes, but it's very informal/slang and mostly heard in Jakarta or among older generations.
Related Phrases
Liburan
similarVacation / Holiday trip
Hari kerja
contrastWork day
Cuti bersama
specialized formJoint leave
Akhir pekan
similarWeekend
