Sedikit

Sedikit is a word used in Indonesian and Malay that functions as an adverb and a determiner, meaning “a little” or “few.” It is employed to indicate a small quantity or extent and is common in both formal and everyday language.

Etymology and form: Sedikit is formed from the base word dikit, meaning a small amount, with the prefix se- that often marks a totality or general sense. The combination conveys the idea of a small amount or a small number of something. In addition to its standard form, it can appear in reduplicated phrases such as sedikit-sedikit, which serves to emphasize gradual accumulation.

Usage: Sedikit can modify nouns directly, as in sedikit air (a little water) or sedikit orang (a few people). It can also precede verbs or clauses to express a limited degree of knowledge or action, for example saya hanya sedikit tahu tentang itu (I only know a little about that). The phrase sedikitnya can function as a noun meaning “the minimum” or “at least,” as in sedikitnya tiga orang hadir (at least three people attended). An idiomatic form, sedikit-sedikit lama-lama menjadi bukit, conveys the idea that small amounts added over time can grow into something substantial.

Nuance and alternatives: Sedikit contrasts with banyak (many, a lot) and is versatile across registers. In spoken Indonesian, it is common to hear sedikit as a neutral quantifier, while in more formal contexts it may be paired with lebih or ter- for emphasis.

See also: Banyak, Cukup, Sedangkan. In practice, sedikit remains a core term for expressing limited quantity in both Indonesian and Malay.