Gunalah

Gunalah is a term primarily encountered in Malay and Indonesian language contexts. It functions as the imperative form of the verb guna, meaning “to use.” The form gunalah results from attaching the enclitic particle lah to guna, producing a phrase that conveys exhortation or emphasis, roughly translating to “use it” or “please use.”

Etymology and form: The base word guna means to use or to benefit. The particle lah is a common Malay and Indonesian discourse marker that adds emphasis, softening, or insistence depending on tone and context. Together, gunalah expresses a directive in a casual or informal register.

Usage: Gunalah is commonly found in everyday speech, informal guides, or instructional text aimed at a general audience. In more formal contexts, the preferred verb is biasanya gunakanlah or gunakan, though gunalah remains understood and widely used in spoken language. It is typically accompanied by a reference to the object to be used, such as Gunalah buku panduan (Use the instruction manual).

Geographic or organizational usage: There is no widely recognized geographic location, brand, or organization named Gunalah in major reference sources. If encountered as a proper noun, it is likely to be a rare or local usage and should be interpreted from its surrounding context.

See also: guna (to use); lah (particle); gunakanlah.