sekali

English

Etymology

From Malay sekali.

Pronunciation

• (Singapore) IPA^(key): /ˈs(ə)kali/, [ˈska˧.li˦]

• Audio (US):

  (file)

Adverb

sekali (not comparable)

1. (Singlish) What if, lest (something problematic or unanticipated happens)
   • 2004, Bug [pseudonym], soc.culture.singapore (Usenet):

     […] the instruction all says to deep fry them, so dared not buy - sekali raw dough, how to eat?

   • 2004 January 2, Colin Goh, The Sunday Times, Singapore, page L12:

     […] make sure he’s activated the right ringtone, sekali you, ahem, raise the wrong hopes.

See also

• somemore

Indonesian

Etymology

Inherited from Malay sekali. Equivalent to se- +‎ kali.

Pronunciation

• (Standard Indonesian) IPA^(key): /səˈkali/ [səˈka.li]
• Syllabification: se‧ka‧li

Adverb

sêkali

1. once

   Aku pergi ke sana sebulan sekali.

   I go there once a month

2. very

   Synonym: sangat

   Pelajaran itu sulit sekali.

   The subject is very difficult.

Further reading

• “sekali” in Kamus Besar Bahasa Indonesia, Jakarta: Agency for Language Development and Cultivation – Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology of the Republic of Indonesia, 2016.

Malay

Etymology

se- (one) +‎ kali (time)

Pronunciation

• (Standard Malaysian) IPA^(key): /sə.ka.li/
• Rhymes: -i

Adverb

sĕkali (Jawi spelling سکالي)

1. once

   Ambil ubat ini sehari sekali sehingga sembuh.

   Take this medicine once a day until you're cured.

2. very

   Indah sekali pemandangan di sini.

   What a beautiful view we have here.

Synonyms

• (once): satu kali
• (very): amat, sangat, sungguh

See also

• begitu

Further reading

• “sekali” in Pusat Rujukan Persuratan Melayu | Malay Literary Reference Centre, Kuala Lumpur: Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka, 2017.