dikira

Dikira is a Malay-Indonesian word that functions as the passive form of the verb kira, meaning to think or to estimate. It expresses that something is believed, considered, or estimated by someone rather than established as a certain fact. The construction uses the di- prefix to form a passive voice, and it is commonly used in both Indonesian and Malay.

Dikira is widely used in everyday language as well as in formal writing across Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei, and Singapore. It denotes conjecture, assumption, or rough estimation about people, events, or measurements. For example, dikira sekitar 50 orang hadir means it is estimated that around 50 people attended, and kawasan itu dikira seluas sekitar dua hektar means the area is thought to be about two hectares in size. The nuance is softer and less definitive than words like dianggap (considered) or dikatakan (stated).

In nuance, dikira conveys provisional judgment or hearsay rather than a confirmed fact. It can appear in news reports, academic writing, or narrative prose to signal that the information is an estimate or an impression. The form remains flexible across tenses by relying on context, making it suitable for both past and present references to beliefs or measurements.

See also: kira, mengira. The word illustrates how Malay and Indonesian share similar grammatical patterns for indicating passive perception, belief, or estimation.

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