Sehari

Sehari is a word in Indonesian and Malay that denotes a duration of one day or, in some contexts, the whole day. It is formed from the noun hari (day) with the prefix se-, which in many cases indicates a totality, unity, or an approximate measure.

In everyday use, sehari can function as a time adverb or a noun. As a time expression, it conveys the idea of carrying out an action for the duration of a single day. Examples include bekerja seharian (to work all day) or menginap seharian (to stay for the whole day). The term can also appear in phrases like menunggu seharian (to wait all day). As a noun, it can refer to a single day in contexts such as biaya seharian (the cost for the day).

There are related forms that specify nuance. Seharian, written as one word, emphasizes the entirety of the day, often equivalent to “the whole day.” Sehari-hari or sehari-hari, with a hyphen or as a fixed expression, means “daily” or “everyday,” describing routines or repeated activities rather than a single day.

Usage notes, world contexts, and pronunciation are similar in Indonesian and Malay. While seharian and sehari-hari are common in both languages, the exact preference for one form over another may vary by region or register.

In translation, sehari can be rendered as “one day,” “a day,” or “for a day,” depending on the surrounding sentence and intended emphasis. See also hari, seharian, and sehari-hari for related terms.