kecilkecil

Kecilkecil is a colloquial Indonesian term derived from the adjective kecil, meaning small. It is formed by reduplication in a compact, informal form and is typically written as a single word in casual writing. Related variants such as kecil-kecil and kecil-kecilan carry similar meanings of diminutiveness or a light, playful emphasis. The construction is part of Indonesian reduplication patterns that express intensity, affection, or a sense of small scale rather than a literal size comparison.

Usage of kecilkecil occurs mainly in informal speech, online discourse, and popular culture. It functions as a descriptive or predicative modifier to convey that something is very small or pleasantly diminutive, sometimes with a humorous or endearing tone. Examples include phrases like "Anak itu masih kecilkecil" (That child is still very small) and "Barang-barang itu kecilkecil, tetapi bermanfaat" (Those items are small, but useful). In practice, speakers may choose the slightly longer form pequenos like kecil-kecil atau kecil-kecilan in more formal or standard contexts.

Status and register: kecilkecil is not a formal entry in major dictionaries and is largely confined to informal speech and creative writing. It reflects Indonesian speakers’ flexibility with reduplication to convey nuance, mood, or affection, rather than to denote a precise measurement.

See also: Reduplication in Indonesian, Bahasa Indonesia, Indonesian slang and colloquialism.