kecuali

Kecuali is an Indonesian and Malay word that functions as a preposition and conjunction meaning "except" or "excluding." It is used to indicate an element that is not included in a general statement, list, or rule, and to mark an exception to what is being described.

As a preposition, kecuali comes before a noun phrase to exclude that noun from a set. For example: semua orang hadir kecuali saya (everyone attended except me) or biaya pembelajaran, kecuali transportasi (all tuition costs except transportation). As a conjunction, it can link clauses to express an exception or a condition that would change the statement: Saya akan datang kecuali jika hujan (I will come unless it rains).

Kecuali can appear in phrases such as kecuali jika or kecuali kalau, both meaning “unless.” In formal or legal language, it is common to see a construction that contrasts covered items with an excluded item in a list or clause. The term juga has a related noun form, kecualian, meaning an exception or a deviation.

In usage, kecuali is often contrasted with synonyms like selain. While both can introduce items outside a set, selain more typically signals addition or other options, whereas kecuali marks a definite exclusion. The word is widely understood in everyday Indonesian and Malay and appears across spoken, written, and formal contexts, including regulatory and contract language.

Related terms include kecualian (the noun for “exception”) and phrases such as selain itu or selain dia, which can function similarly in some contexts but carry nuanced differences in emphasis.