lebihlebih

Lebihlebih, commonly written lebih-lebih or lebih lebih, is a reduplication pattern in Indonesian and Malay used as an intensifier. It functions as an adverb meaning “even more,” “more so,” or “especially.” The construction deepens the degree of an adjective or verb and is used in both formal prose and everyday speech.

Etymology and forms: The term derives from lebih, the comparative meaning “more.” Reduplication is a common Austronesian linguistic device to signal emphasis. Variants include lebih-lebih and lebih-lebih lagi; in casual online writing, it may appear without a hyphen as lebihlebih. This pattern aligns with other intensifiers formed by repetition in the language.

Usage: It is placed before the adjective or verb to boost its degree: “Dia lebih-lebih pandai dalam matematika” (he is especially/even more clever in mathematics), or “Cuaca hari ini lebih-lebih buruk” (the weather today is particularly bad). The phrase “lebih-lebih lagi” can function as a connector meaning “moreover” or “even more so,” introducing additional emphasis or considerations.

Cultural and stylistic notes: The expression is a standard part of Indonesian usage and appears in spoken language, print, and digital media as a conventional intensifier. In some contexts, it may appear in advertising or memes to heighten emphasis. While primarily a linguistic device, its frequency and tone can shift with register and audience.

See also: Indonesian language, Malay language, reduplication, intensifier.