Kepala sekolah tiba tepat waktu.

The principal arrives on time.

Breakdown of Kepala sekolah tiba tepat waktu.

• tiba: to arrive
• tepat waktu: on time
• kepala sekolah: the principal

Questions & Answers about Kepala sekolah tiba tepat waktu.

Does kepala sekolah literally mean “head of the school,” and is that the normal way to say “principal”?

Yes. Kepala means “head,” sekolah means “school,” and the compound kepala sekolah is the standard way to say “principal” in Indonesian (equivalent to “headteacher”/“principal”). In Malaysian usage you may also see pengetua, but in Indonesia kepala sekolah is the norm.

How do I say “the principal” versus “a principal” in Indonesian?

Indonesian has no articles. Context usually tells you whether it’s definite or indefinite. To make it explicit:

• “the principal”: kepala sekolah itu (that principal)
• “a principal”: seorang kepala sekolah

Should kepala sekolah be capitalized?

As a common noun, it’s lowercase: kepala sekolah. Capitalize when it’s part of a specific title placed directly before a name: Kepala Sekolah Rina. In your sentence, Kepala is capitalized only because it starts the sentence.

Why use tiba here instead of datang?

Both can mean “arrive,” but:

• tiba is slightly more formal and often used for scheduled/official arrivals.
• datang is more general and common in everyday speech. Your sentence would also be fine as Kepala sekolah datang tepat waktu, just a bit more casual.