Learn Hardcore Indonesian: Inilah gitar yang saya pakai untuk latihan setiap malam. - This is the guitar that I use for practice every night.

inilah combines ini (this) + the enclitic particle -lah, which adds emphasis and makes it a true demonstrative (“here is…” or “this is…”).

inilah gitar means “here is the guitar” or “this is the guitar,” with a strong pointing-out or introductory tone.
ini gitar would literally be “this guitar,” but without the emphatic “here is…” sense.

What is the function of yang in this sentence?

yang serves as a relative pronoun (equivalent to English “that” or “which”). It links the noun gitar to the clause saya pakai, turning it into “the guitar that I use.”

How are relative clauses like yang saya pakai typically structured in Indonesian?

Indonesian relative clauses follow the pattern:
noun + yang + subject + verb (+ object)
Here we have gitar + yang + saya + pakai, literally “guitar that I use,” matching English “the guitar that I use.”

What is the difference between pakai and menggunakan?

Both verbs mean “to use.”

pakai is the shorter, more colloquial form.
menggunakan is the formal or standard form.
You could say either:
• gitar yang saya pakai (informal)
• gitar yang saya gunakan (more formal)

What does untuk mean in untuk latihan?

untuk is a preposition meaning “for” or “in order to.” In untuk latihan, it marks purpose: “for practice.”

Can I say untuk berlatih instead of untuk latihan?

Yes.

latihan is a noun (“practice”), so untuk latihan = “for practice.”
berlatih is the verb “to practice,” so untuk berlatih = “in order to practice.”
Both are grammatically correct; the choice is simply noun versus verb form.

What does setiap malam mean, and why is it placed at the end of the sentence?

setiap means “every” and malam means “night,” so setiap malam = “every night.” As an adverbial phrase of time/frequency, it naturally follows the verb or purpose phrase, indicating when the action happens.

Is there a difference between tiap malam and setiap malam?

No significant difference. tiap is just a shortened form of setiap, and both mean “every.” You can use them interchangeably.

Can I use aku instead of saya in this sentence?

Yes. aku is a more informal or intimate first-person pronoun, while saya is neutral or polite. A more casual version would be:
Inilah gitar yang aku pakai untuk latihan setiap malam.

Can I replace yang saya pakai with the bound-pronoun form kupakai?

Yes. Indonesian allows bound pronouns attached to verbs. Instead of saya pakai, you can use kupakai, giving:
Inilah gitar yang kupakai untuk latihan setiap malam.
This is concise and common in everyday speech.