In Indonesian, both “seperti” and “kayak” mean “like / similar to.”
However, they are used in different levels of formality.
Understanding the difference helps learners sound natural in conversation.
1. SEPERTI (formal–neutral)
Meaning: like / similar to / as if
“Seperti” is the standard and more formal version.
You can use it in writing, presentations, polite conversations, or when you want a neutral tone.
Examples:
- Dia makan seperti orang yang sangat lapar.
(He eats like someone who is very hungry.) - Mobil ini bentuknya seperti kotak.
(This car is shaped like a box.) - Rumahnya besar seperti villa.
(His house is big like a villa.)
2. KAYAK (very informal / conversational)
Meaning: like / kinda like
“Kayak” is the slang/casual version of “seperti.”
Used in daily conversation, texting, and relaxed situations.
It sounds much more casual, friendly, and colloquial.
Examples:
- Dia makan kayak orang kelaparan.
(He eats like someone starving.) - Rasanya kayak es krim coklat.
(It tastes like chocolate ice cream.) - Mukanya kayak capek banget.
(He looks like he’s really tired.)
3. Easy Summary Table
| Word | Meaning | Register | Usage |
|---|---|---|---|
| seperti | like / similar to | formal–neutral | writing, polite speech |
| kayak | like / kinda like | casual–informal | daily conversation, slang |
4. Example Sentence Pairs
- Dia menangis seperti anak kecil.
(She cried like a little kid.) - Dia nangis kayak anak kecil.
(She cried like a little kid.) — more casual
- Langitnya gelap seperti mau hujan.
(The sky is dark like it’s going to rain.) - Langitnya gelap kayak mau hujan.
(The sky is dark like it’s gonna rain.)
