semula

Semula is a word used in Malay and Indonesian with senses related to repetition, restart, or return to an earlier state. The primary meaning is an adverb meaning “again,” “anew,” or “from the beginning,” and it is commonly used to indicate that an action is being repeated or that a process is being started again after an interruption.

In Malay, semula forms part of common phrases such as mulai semula (start over) and berjalan semula (resume). It can also denote restoration to an original condition, as in kertas itu dikembalikan semula ke keadaan asal (the paper was returned to its original state). In Indonesian, semula is used similarly, for example kita akan mulai semula dari awal (we will start over from the beginning) or operasi berjalan semula setelah gangguan (operations resumed after the disruption).

Compared with synonyms, semula emphasizes restarting or returning to the original state rather than merely repeating an action (lagi) or returning to a place (kembali). The term is common in formal and informal contexts, including news, literature, and everyday speech. Its usage is generally clear from the surrounding verb or context, and it is widely understood in both Malay- and Indonesian-speaking regions.