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.

What about sampai as “arrive”? Is that okay?

Yes, sampai is very common in speech. With a place, people often say sampai di: Beliau sampai di kantor. Note that sampai can also mean “until,” so without a location it can be ambiguous in some contexts.

Do I need a preposition after tiba?

Only if you state the destination: tiba di + place. For example, Kepala sekolah tiba di kantor tepat waktu. If you don’t mention a place, tiba stands alone, as in your sentence.

How is past/present/future shown here? There’s no tense marking.

Indonesian verbs don’t inflect for tense. Time is inferred from context or added with time words/particles:

• Past: tadi, kemarin, sudah (already)
• Future: akan, besok, nanti Examples: Kepala sekolah tadi tiba tepat waktu (earlier today); Kepala sekolah akan tiba tepat waktu (will arrive on time).

What nuance does sudah add if I say Kepala sekolah sudah tiba?

Sudah emphasizes completion (“has already”). Kepala sekolah sudah tiba = “The principal has already arrived.” You can add punctuality if relevant: Kepala sekolah sudah tiba tepat waktu, but usually you’d mention the time: … sudah tiba tepat pukul delapan.

Where does tepat waktu go? Can it move?

Default placement is after the verb: tiba tepat waktu. You can front it for emphasis: Tepat waktu, kepala sekolah tiba, often with a comma. Avoid inserting it between subject and verb in neutral word order.

Is tepat waktu a fixed phrase? Any alternatives?

Yes, tepat waktu is a set collocation meaning “on time.” Alternatives:

• Slightly formal: pada waktunya, tepat pada waktunya
• Very colloquial: pas waktu or just pas (e.g., tiba pas jam delapan)
• With a clock time: tepat pukul/jam X

How do I say the opposite (“not on time” / “late”) naturally?

Use terlambat (“late”): Kepala sekolah terlambat or Kepala sekolah datang terlambat. While tidak tepat waktu is understandable, terlambat sounds more natural.

How do I include the exact time?

Use pukul (more formal) or jam (everyday) plus the number, and you can add tepat for “exactly”:

• Kepala sekolah tiba tepat pukul delapan.
• Kepala sekolah tiba jam delapan tepat.

How is kepala sekolah pronounced?

Approximate English-like guide: kepala “kuh-PAH-lah,” sekolah “suh-KOH-lah,” tiba “TEE-bah,” tepat “tuh-PAHT,” waktu “WAHK-too.” Indonesian stress is light and typically near the end; the letter e in sekolah and tepat is a schwa (uh).

Why isn’t adalah used here?

Adalah links a subject to a noun/adjective (e.g., “X is Y”). With verbs, you don’t use adalah. Since tiba is a verb, Kepala sekolah adalah tiba… would be incorrect.

How do I make it plural (“The principals arrived on time”)?

Use para for plural humans: Para kepala sekolah tiba tepat waktu. You can also use a quantifier: beberapa kepala sekolah (“several principals”).

How would I say “our principal arrived on time”?

Use a possessive pronoun after the noun: Kepala sekolah kami tiba tepat waktu. For “their principal,” use mereka: kepala sekolah mereka.

Is there a polite way to refer to or address the principal?

Yes. Use honorifics Pak (Mr./Sir) or Bu (Ms./Ma’am) with the title: Pak/Bu Kepala Sekolah. Example: Pak Kepala Sekolah tiba tepat waktu.

I’ve seen kepsek in texts. Is that acceptable?

Kepsek is an informal abbreviation of kepala sekolah, common in casual writing/texts. It’s not suitable for formal contexts.

Do I ever need yang after kepala sekolah here?

Not in this simple sentence. Yang introduces a relative clause, e.g., Kepala sekolah yang baru tiba tepat waktu (“The principal who just arrived was on time”). Your sentence’s tiba is the main verb, so no yang is needed.

Can I start the sentence with the adverb for emphasis?

Yes. Tepat waktu, kepala sekolah tiba. This fronting is for emphasis or stylistic variety. The neutral order remains Kepala sekolah tiba tepat waktu.