lahan

Lahan is a term used in Indonesian and Malay to refer to a tract or area of land designated for a particular use. It emphasizes the function or use of the land rather than its soil composition alone. In everyday language, lahan can denote farmland, a building site, or any defined parcel of ground.

Common compound phrases include lahan pertanian (agricultural land), lahan industri (industrial land), lahan pemukiman (residential land), lahan basah (wetland), and lahan gambut (peatland). The term is also found in formal planning and land-management contexts, where land is categorized as lahan pertanian, lahan non-pertanian, or lahan publik. Expressions such as lahan kosong (vacant land) and lahan tidur (idle or unused land) appear in media and discourse about development and conservation.

Usage and nuance: the precise meaning of lahan can vary by context and regulatory framework. In some cases, lahan is distinguished from tanah to denote the land’s designated use rather than ownership. The concept is important in discussions of urban planning, agriculture, environmental conservation, and real estate, where the delineation of lahan affects zoning, rights, and responsibilities.

See also: tanah, zone, zoning, land use, wetlands. While lahan is widespread in Indonesian and Malay, its exact interpretation is shaped by local language, policy, and cultural practice surrounding land and development.