Sebentar

Sebentar is an Indonesian and Malay time expression that functions as an adverb meaning for a short time, briefly, or soon. It is used to request a pause or to indicate a brief interval, and can appear in formal and informal contexts. Common phrases include "Tunggu sebentar" (wait a moment) and "sebentar lagi" (in a moment / soon).

Etymology: The word is formed with the prefix se- attached to the root "bentar," a colloquial form meaning a short period. The standalone form "bentar" is frequently heard in everyday speech (as in "tunggu bentar"), while "sebentar" is the standard lexical item found in dictionaries.

Usage notes: Sebentar is versatile: it can modify verbs directly, appear with "lagi" to emphasize imminent or ongoing briefness (for example, "sebentar lagi"), or serve as an interjection ("Sebentar!"). It sits among common time expressions in Indonesian, alongside synonyms such as "sekejap" (a very short moment) and "sejenak" (a brief pause), each carrying slightly different nuances and levels of formality.

See also: sekejap, sejenak, sesaat, sebentar lagi.