Gula

Gula is a term with several distinct meanings across languages and contexts. In Malay and Indonesian, gula means sugar and is used widely in daily language and cooking. Common forms include gula pasir (granulated sugar), gula halus (fine sugar), gula merah or gula aren (palm sugar), and gula tebu (sugar from sugar cane). The word appears in many food and beverage names, labels, and recipes throughout Southeast Asia.

In Mesopotamian religion, Gula is the name of a goddess of healing. In Akkadian sources she is associated with medicine and the healing arts, and she is sometimes identified with the Sumerian goddess Nintinugga. Her cult involved rituals, offerings, and imagery linked to health, welfare, and purification.

Gula may also occur as a proper noun in modern contexts, including as a personal name or place name, reflecting its use in various languages and cultures. When encountered in text, the intended meaning is usually clear from surrounding information.