dahulu

Dahulu is a word in the Malay language used in Indonesian and Malay contexts that means formerly, in the past, or long ago. It is commonly employed in historical narration and formal or literary discourse to situate events outside the present.

Linguistically, dahulu is an adverb derived from older Malay usage and is considered more formal or archaic than the everyday word dulu. It often appears in fixed expressions such as dahulu kala for “in ancient times” or dahulunya for “in former times.” In modern Indonesian, dahulu tends to appear in literature, journalism, and speeches that aim to evoke antiquity or tradition.

Usage notes: dahulu is not a proper noun and is written in lowercase unless at the start of a sentence. It contrasts with dulu, which is common in everyday speech to mean “before” or “previously.” The term also appears in regional literatures and historical writing across the Indonesian archipelago and in Malay-speaking communities. Common phrases include dahulu kala and dahulunya.

Examples: “Dahulu, kota itu dikelilingi hutan.” “Dahulu kala, kerajaan itu berjaya.” These usages illustrate how dahulu signals a distant past and is often paired with kala or other temporal markers to emphasize antiquity.