Dompet itu mahal karena terbuat dari kulit asli.

to be

Breakdown of Dompet itu mahal karena terbuat dari kulit asli.

• itu: that
• karena: because
• dompet: the wallet

Questions & Answers about Dompet itu mahal karena terbuat dari kulit asli.

What does dompet itu mean, and why is itu placed after dompet?

dompet = wallet
itu = that
In Indonesian, demonstrative pronouns (like “this,” “that”) follow the noun. So dompet itu literally is “wallet that,” i.e. “that wallet.”

Why is there no “is” (copula) in dompet itu mahal?

Indonesian typically omits the verb “to be” in simple adjective predicates. The structure is simply:
Subject + Adjective
Therefore dompet itu mahal directly means “that wallet is expensive” without needing an extra “is.”

What does mahal mean, and can it function like a verb?

mahal means “expensive.” In Indonesian, adjectives can serve as predicates by themselves, so you don’t need a separate verb for “to be expensive.” You simply place mahal after the subject.

What does karena mean, and are there alternatives for expressing “because”?

karena = “because.”
Alternatives include:

• sebab (more formal)
• The paired structure karena … maka … to show cause and effect explicitly

What does terbuat dari mean, and how does the prefix work here?