sedap

Sedap is an adjective used in Malay and Indonesian to describe food, drink, or flavors that are pleasant and tasty. In everyday speech across Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, and parts of Indonesia, sedap conveys a positive evaluation of taste and is a common term in menus, recipes, and food criticism. The word can also appear in non-culinary contexts to express general satisfaction with an experience or object, though its primary association is with food.

Etymology and usage patterns are rooted in the Malay language, with sedap considered a native term in this linguistic area. In standard Indonesian, speakers may prefer or alternate with other descriptors such as lezat or enak, but sedap remains widely understood and used in casual conversation, advertisements, and colloquial writing in Indonesian-speaking communities as well.

Regional variation is notable. In Malaysia and Singapore, sedap is a staple descriptor on hawker stall signs, in family kitchens, and on street-food menus. In Indonesia, while lezat and enak are common in formal writing and media, sedap is still widely understood in informal contexts and among interlocutors familiar with Malay influence. The term is less common in formal Indonesian literature but remains a recognizable and versatile everyday word.

See also: Malay language, Indonesian language, food terminology, culinary vocabulary.

Note: The word’s meaning centers on taste and satisfaction, with broader usage extending to positive judgments of experiences beyond food.