Dalam

Dalam is a word in the Malay and Indonesian languages that means "inside" or "within." It functions primarily as a preposition and adverbial marker of location or state, often used to indicate the interior of something or a particular context. In many contexts, it can replace "di dalam" in formal or idiomatic usage.

In everyday speech, Dalam appears in phrases such as "dalam buku itu" meaning "in that book" or "dalam keadaan darurat" meaning "in an emergency." It is also used in expressions like "dalam banyak hal" meaning "in many respects" or "dalam hal ini" meaning "in this regard." The word forms part of several compound constructions and idioms that convey state, substance, or scope.

Beyond its role as a preposition, Dalam can function as a proper noun in some contexts, including as a surname or as a place name in parts of Southeast Asia. Because such uses are localized and not widely standardized, they are less frequent than the common lexical use.

In linguistic discussions, Dalam is noted for its interaction with other particles and its role in signaling position and context within sentences. Its versatility across formal and informal registers makes it a fundamental element in Malay and Indonesian grammar, as well as a recognizable feature in everyday communication.