guna

See also: Appendix:Variations of "guna"

Languages (22)

English

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Albanian • Australian Kriol • Balinese • Cebuano • Central Bikol • Chinese • Darumbal • Dena'ina • Gamilaraay • German • Hausa • Iban • Indonesian • Javanese • Lindu • Malay • Portuguese • Spanish • Swahili • Yorta Yorta • Zazaki

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Page categories

English

Etymology

From Sanskrit गुण (guṇá, “quality”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈɡʊnə/

• Audio (Southern England):

  (file)

Noun

guna (countable and uncountable, plural gunas)

1. (Sanskrit linguistics) A lengthening of the simple vowels a, i, u, by prefixing an a element.
2. (countable) In Hindu philosophy, any of the three fundamental operating principles or tendencies of prakṛti (universal nature): sattva, rajas, and tamas.

Derived terms

• gunate

Anagrams

• ANUG, Aung, Guan, UNGA, guan, guan-

Albanian

Noun

guna

1. inflection of gunë:
   1. definite nominative singular
   2. indefinite nominative/accusative plural

Australian Kriol

Etymology

From Proto-Pama-Nyungan *kuna.

Noun

guna

1. faeces
2. anus

Verb

guna

1. to defecate

Balinese

Etymology

Borrowed from Old Javanese guṇa (“quality, property; good quality, virtue, excellence, accomplishment, skill; use, employment; magic”), from Sanskrit गुण (guṇa, “single thread of a cord; -fold, times; subdivision, species, kind, quality, attribute, property; constituent of Prakṛti; property or characteristic of all created things”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ɡu.nə/
• Rhymes: -unə
• Hyphenation: gu‧na

Noun

guna (Balinese script ᬕᬸᬡ)

1. use
2. magic

Further reading

• “guna”, in Balinese–Indonesian Dictionary [Kamus Bahasa Bali–Indonesia] (in Balinese), Denpasar, Indonesia: The Linguistic Center of Bali Province [Balai Bahasa Provinsi Bali].

Cebuano

Pronunciation

• Hyphenation: gu‧na
• IPA^(key): /ˈɡuna/ [ˈɡuː.n̪a]

Noun

guna (Badlit spelling ᜄᜓᜈ)

1. a type of bolo knife, shorter and smaller than a sundang and with a blunt point, primarily used for weeding, digging and loosening the soil around plants

Verb

guna (Badlit spelling ᜄᜓᜈ)

1. to weed, dig or loosen the soil using a guna

Central Bikol

Sarong gunâ kaiba an saiyang mga siyo (A mother hen with her chicks).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ɡuˈnaʔ/ [ɡuˈn̪aʔ]

• Audio:

  (file)

• Hyphenation: gu‧na

Noun

gunâ (Basahan spelling ᜄᜓᜈ)

1. (Naga) hen

   Synonym: gunakan

See also

• dumaraga
• lalong
• manok
• siwo
• siyo
• sulog

Chinese

Etymology

From pinyin transcription of the phrase 滾啊 (gǔn a, “go away, go to hell”).

Pronunciation

• Mandarin

  (Pinyin): gǔn a

  (Zhuyin): ㄍㄨㄣˇ ˙ㄚ

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• Mandarin
  • (Standard Chinese)⁺
    • Hanyu Pinyin: gǔn a
    • Zhuyin: ㄍㄨㄣˇ ˙ㄚ
    • Tongyong Pinyin: gǔn å
    • Wade–Giles: kun³ a⁵
    • Yale: gwǔn a
    • Gwoyeu Romatzyh: goen .a
    • Palladius: гунь а (gunʹ a)
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /ku̯ən²¹⁴ ˀä⁴/

Interjection

guna

1. (Mandarin, Internet slang, humorous, euphemistic) go away; get lost; GTFO

Darumbal

Etymology

Likely from Proto-Pama-Nyungan *kuna.

Noun

guna

1. excrement

References

• Angela Terrill (2002), Dharumbal: the language of Rockhampton, Australia (Pacific Linguistics; 525), Canberra: Australian National University Research School of Pacific and Asian Studies, →ISBN, page 54.

Dena'ina

Etymology

Equivalent to gin +‎ -na (plural human suffix). Compare Ahtna gaane.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /kuna/

Pronoun

guna

1. these people

See also

Dena'ina demonstrative pronouns

• ghini, ghin
• ghuna
• ghunen
• gini, gin
• guna
• gunen

Noun

guna

1. the local people

References

• Kari, James (2013), Denaʼina Topical Dictionary, Revised Edition, Alaska Native Language Center, University of Alaska Fairbanks, pages 65, 80

Gamilaraay

Etymology

From Proto-Central New South Wales *gunang, from Proto-Pama-Nyungan *kuna.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ɡuna/

Noun

guna

1. excrement, faeces, shit

References

• Barry Alpher (2004), “Proto-Pama-Nyungan Etyma”, in Claire Bowern, Harold Koch, editors, Australian Languages: Classification and the Comparative Method, Amsterdam: John Benjamins, →ISBN, section 5.1, pages 439–42
• Peter Austin (1993) A Reference Grammar of Gamilaraay, northern New South Wales (Thesis)‎^[1], Melbourne, Australia: La Trobe University, Department of Linguistics, →ISBN

German

Interjection

guna

1. (informal) syllabic abbreviation of gute Nacht

Related terms

• gumo

Hausa

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ɡú.nàː/
  • (Standard Kano Hausa) IPA^(key): [ɡʷʊ́.nàː]

Noun

gunā̀ f (plural gunōnī, possessed form gunàr̃)

1. tsamma (a bitter melon, Citrullus lanatus)
2. An epithet for someone who is not as strong as expected.
3. (colloquial) A girl who is physically mature with developed breasts.

Iban

Noun

guna

1. usage

Verb

guna

1. of use, wanted, needed, of benefit.

   ..., mayuh pengawa begunaka pengelandik dalam digital.

   ..., many jobs need digital skillfulness.

References

• Richards, Anthony. An Iban-English Dictionary, Volume 1 Clarendon Press. 1981.
• Nembiak patut nyemelaka pemujur dalam pelajar enggau pengelandik Utusan Borneo. 28 August 2023.

Indonesian

Etymology

Inherited from Malay guna (“usage”), from Classical Malay guna, from Sanskrit गुण (guṇa, “use”).

Pronunciation

• (Standard Indonesian) IPA^(key): /ˈɡuna/ [ˈɡu.na]
• Rhymes: -una
• Syllabification: gu‧na

Noun

guna (plural guna-guna)

1. benefit

   Synonyms: faedah, manfaat, maslahat

2. purpose, function

   Synonym: fungsi

3. (figurative) goodness, virtue

   Synonyms: budi baik, kebaikan

Alternative forms

• goena (1901–1947)

Derived terms

• berguna
• berkegunaan
• kegunaan
• ketergunaan
• mempergunakan
• menggunakan
• pengguna
• penggunaan
• seguna
• serbaguna
• tergunakan

Related terms

• asmaraguna
• guna-guna
• mandraguna

Preposition

guna

1. for

   Synonyms: bagi, untuk

Further reading

• “guna”, in Kamus Besar Bahasa Indonesia [Great Dictionary of the Indonesian Language] (in Indonesian), Jakarta: Agency for Language Development and Cultivation – Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology of the Republic of Indonesia, 2016

Javanese

Romanization

guna

1. romanization of ꦒꦸꦤ

Lindu

Noun

guna

1. use; purpose

Malay

Pronunciation

• (schwa-variety) IPA^(key): /ˈɡunə/ [ˈɡu.nə]
• Rhymes: -nə, -ə
• (/a/-variety, Literary Standard) IPA^(key): /ˈɡuna/ [ˈɡu.na]
• Rhymes: -na, -a
• Hyphenation: gu‧na

Etymology 1

From Sanskrit गुण (guṇa, “use”).

Noun

guna (Jawi spelling ݢونا, plural guna-guna)

1. benefit

   Synonyms: faedah, manfaat

2. function, use

   Synonyms: fungsi, peranan

3. goodness, kindness

   Synonyms: budi baik, kebaikan

Derived terms

Affixations seguna

• berguna (“useful”)
• gunaan
• kebergunaan (“usefulness”)
• kegunaan (“use of something; use of someone”)
• kepenggunaan (“consumerism”)
• mempergunakan
• menggunakan (“to use something”)
• pengguna (“consumer; user”)
• penggunaan (“usage”)
• pergunaan (“act of using”)

Descendants

• > Indonesian: guna
• → Tausug: guna

Preposition

guna (Jawi spelling ݢونا)

1. for

   Synonyms: bagi, untuk

Etymology 2

Clipping of menggunakan.

Verb

guna (Jawi spelling ݢونا)

1. (informal) to use

   Aku guna fon aku ni hanya untuk menelefon mak ayah aku selalunya.

   I usually use my phone here just to call my parents.

Further reading

• "guna" in Pusat Rujukan Persuratan Melayu (PRPM) [Malay Literary Reference Centre (PRPM)] (in Malay), Kuala Lumpur: Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka, 2017
  (also see "guna" at PRPM first version)

Portuguese

Etymology 1

Borrowed from English goon.

Pronunciation

• (Brazil) IPA^(key): /ˈɡũ.nɐ/

• (Portugal) IPA^(key): /ˈɡu.nɐ/

• Hyphenation: gu‧na

Noun

guna m (plural gunas)

1. (Porto, colloquial, derogatory) a chav (relating to a youth from a working class background, aggressive with poor education)

   Synonym: (Southern Portugal) mitra

Derived terms

• andar à guna
• gunada

Further reading

• “guna”, in Dicionário Aulete Digital (in Portuguese), Rio de Janeiro: Lexikon Editora Digital, 2008–2026

Etymology 2

Verb

guna

1. inflection of gunar:
   1. third-person singular present indicative
   2. second-person singular imperative

Spanish

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈɡuna/ [ˈɡu.na]
• Rhymes: -una
• Syllabification: gu‧na

Noun

guna f (plural gunas)

1. (Hinduism) guna

Swahili

Pronunciation

• Audio (Kenya):

  (file)

Verb

-guna (infinitive kuguna)

1. to moan, grunt

Conjugation

Conjugation of -guna
Positive present -naguna Subjunctive -gune Negative -guni Imperative singular guna
Infinitives
Positive kuguna Negative kutoguna
Imperatives
Singular guna Plural guneni
Tensed forms
Habitual huguna Positive past positive subject concord + -liguna Negative past negative subject concord + -kuguna
Positive present (positive subject concord + -naguna) Singular Plural 1st person ninaguna/naguna tunaguna 2nd person unaguna mnaguna 3rd person m-wa(I/II) anaguna wanaguna other classes positive subject concord + -naguna
Negative present (negative subject concord + -guni) Singular Plural 1st person siguni hatuguni 2nd person huguni hamguni 3rd person m-wa(I/II) haguni hawaguni other classes negative subject concord + -guni
Positive future positive subject concord + -taguna Negative future negative subject concord + -taguna
Positive subjunctive (positive subject concord + -gune) Singular Plural 1st person nigune tugune 2nd person ugune mgune 3rd person m-wa(I/II) agune wagune other classes positive subject concord + -gune
Negative subjunctive positive subject concord + -sigune Positive present conditional positive subject concord + -ngeguna Negative present conditional positive subject concord + -singeguna Positive past conditional positive subject concord + -ngaliguna Negative past conditional positive subject concord + -singaliguna
Gnomic (positive subject concord + -aguna) Singular Plural 1st person naguna twaguna 2nd person waguna mwaguna 3rd person m-wa(I/II) aguna waguna m-mi(III/IV) waguna yaguna ji-ma(V/VI) laguna yaguna ki-vi(VII/VIII) chaguna vyaguna n(IX/X) yaguna zaguna u(XI) waguna see n(X) or ma(VI) class ku(XV/XVII) kwaguna pa(XVI) paguna mu(XVIII) mwaguna
Perfect positive subject concord + -meguna "Already" positive subject concord + -meshaguna "Not yet" negative subject concord + -jaguna "If/When" positive subject concord + -kiguna "If not" positive subject concord + -sipoguna Consecutive kaguna / positive subject concord + -kaguna Consecutive subjunctive positive subject concord + -kagune
Object concord (indicative positive) Singular Plural 1st person -niguna -tuguna 2nd person -kuguna -waguna/-kuguneni/-waguneni 3rd person m-wa(I/II) -mguna -waguna m-mi(III/IV) -uguna -iguna ji-ma(V/VI) -liguna -yaguna ki-vi(VII/VIII) -kiguna -viguna n(IX/X) -iguna -ziguna u(XI) -uguna see n(X) or ma(VI) class ku(XV/XVII) -kuguna pa(XVI) -paguna mu(XVIII) -muguna Reflexive -jiguna
Relative forms General positive (positive subject concord + (object concord) + -guna- + relative marker) Singular Plural m-wa(I/II) -gunaye -gunao m-mi(III/IV) -gunao -gunayo ji-ma(V/VI) -gunalo -gunayo ki-vi(VII/VIII) -gunacho -gunavyo n(IX/X) -gunayo -gunazo u(XI) -gunao see n(X) or ma(VI) class ku(XV/XVII) -gunako pa(XVI) -gunapo mu(XVIII) -gunamo Other forms (subject concord + tense marker + relative marker + (object concord) + -guna) Singular Plural m-wa(I/II) -yeguna -oguna m-mi(III/IV) -oguna -yoguna ji-ma(V/VI) -loguna -yoguna ki-vi(VII/VIII) -choguna -vyoguna n(IX/X) -yoguna -zoguna u(XI) -oguna see n(X) or ma(VI) class ku(XV/XVII) -koguna pa(XVI) -poguna mu(XVIII) -moguna
Some forms not commonly seen in modern Standard Swahili are absent from the table. See Appendix:Swahili verbs for more information.

Yorta Yorta

Etymology

From Proto-Pama-Nyungan *kuna.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [ˈɡʊnʌ]

Noun

guna

1. excrement

References

• Bowe H.; Morey S. (1999), The Yorta Yorta (Bangerang) Language of the Murray Goulburn Including Yabula Yabula (Pacific Linguistics), The Australian National University, →DOI, page 184

Zazaki

Etymology

From Persian گناه (gonâh).

Noun

guna c

1. sin