Itu rumah.

That is a house.

Breakdown of Itu rumah.

• adalah: to be
• sebuah: a
• itu: that
• rumah: the house

Questions & Answers about Itu rumah.

Why is there no is or any verb in Itu rumah?

In Indonesian, linking verbs like is are often not used. A simple phrase like Itu rumah already conveys the meaning That is a house, even without an explicit verb.

Does Itu rumah mean That house or That is a house?

Indonesian often uses the same phrase to mean both. In everyday context, Itu rumah is typically understood as That is a house, but depending on the situation, it can also be interpreted simply as That house.

What if I want to say This is a house instead of That is a house?

You can replace itu (that) with ini (this). So This is a house would be Ini rumah.

Why don’t I see any word for a? Do Indonesians use articles like a or an?

Indonesian does not have direct equivalents of English articles a or an. Often, no article is needed. If you want to be more specific or emphasize that there’s only one house, you might say Sebuah rumah (“a house”), but that’s not always necessary.

Is Itu at the beginning always translated as That is?

Not always. Itu can function like a demonstrative (that) or a demonstrative pronoun (that one). Context determines whether you interpret Itu rumah as That is a house or That house (e.g., pointing it out to someone).