minumlah

Minumlah is an Indonesian verb form that functions as the imperative to mean “drink.” It is the command or request form of the verb minum, which means “to drink.” The form minumlah is used when addressing one or more listeners in a polite or emphatic way, especially in formal, instructional, or hospitality contexts. The sentence-ending particle -lah adds emphasis or softness to the command, making it less abrupt than a bare imperative.

In usage, minumlah typically appears with an object or complement indicating what to drink, such as air putih (water), obat (medicine), or jus buah (fruit juice). It is common in health campaigns, cooking instructions, or polite exhortations. In everyday conversation, speakers may opt for the shorter or more direct form, such as “Minum!”, depending on tone and relationship between speakers.

Phonology and grammar notes: minumlah is formed by attaching the particle -lah to the verb minum, with no explicit subject expressed in the sentence. Indonesian imperatives do not require a subject pronoun; the subject is understood from context. The form can be used for a single listener or a group, with meaning clarified by context or accompanying pronouns.

See also: Indonesian verb moods, imperative constructions, and the particle -lah.