Ways to say it
| Indonesian | IPA |
|---|---|
| sangat | /ˈsaŋat/ (Standard Indonesian) |
| nian | |
| sekali | /səˈkali/ (Standard Indonesian) |
| banget | /ˈbaŋət/ (Standard Indonesian) |
To express that something is occurring to a high degree, you can use sangat, sekali, amat or the slang term banget. Additionally, the word begitu can also convey the meaning of 'very' when used alongside adjectives or adverbs.
Which one should you use?
The placement of the word depends on which form you choose: sangat is placed before the adjective, while sekali and the colloquial banget are placed after the adjective. In terms of tone, sangat is used in formal writing and speech, whereas banget is used in casual, everyday spoken Indonesian.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Sangat is a versatile and common way to say 'very'. For more formal written documents, you may use amat. In neutral situations, sekali is a common choice. For informal or casual conversations, particularly among younger people, banget is a popular slang term.
How does it change in a sentence?
When using sangat, it is placed before the adjective it modifies. When using the neutral intensifier sekali, it is placed after the adjective. Although sekali can mean 'once', it functions as an intensifier meaning 'very' or 'extremely' when it follows an adjective.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈsaŋat/
Did you know?
- The word banget originated from the Betawi dialect of Jakarta and is heavily influenced by the ngoko register of Javanese, which is used for informal or lower-status speech.
- In certain poetic or classical Malay contexts, nian is used as an intensifier, though it is rarely heard in modern daily conversation in Jakarta.
Examples in context
- Es itu sangat tebal.The ice is very thick.This sentence uses sangat to describe the thickness of ice.Tatoeba #12161372 by HAGNi, translation #44327 by CK
- Kue ini sangat manis.This cake is very sweet.This sentence uses sangat to describe how sweet a cake is.Tatoeba #11658824 by Pacific, translation #61169 by jakov
- Hari ini panas sekali!It is very warm today!This sentence uses sekali to describe how warm it is today.Tatoeba #2475514 by menyo, translation #7813015 by sharris123
- Dia sangat pintar.He/she is very smart.
- Restoran ini begitu mahal.This restaurant is very expensive.
- Aku capek banget.I am very tired.
- 324 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Maya and Dimas are talking about a new cafe.
- MayaKafe ini sangat cantik, ya?This cafe is very beautiful, isn't it?
- DimasIya, suasananya sangat nyaman.Yes, the atmosphere is very comfortable.
- MayaApakah kopinya sangat mahal?Is the coffee very expensive?
- DimasTidak, harganya sangat murah.No, the price is very cheap.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “very” translations and entries sangat, sekali, banget, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries banget, sangat, sekali, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
