Learn Hardcore Indonesian: Dompet saya kosong sekarang.

In Indonesian, you don’t use a copula (like “is”) with adjectives or noun predicates. You simply put the subject (or topic) first and follow it with the adjective or noun. So Dompet saya kosong literally reads “Wallet my empty” and is understood as “My wallet is empty.”

Why is saya placed after dompet, and can I attach it to the noun?

Possession in Indonesian is formed by placing the noun first, then the possessor: dompet saya (“my wallet”). Saying saya dompet would be grammatically incorrect. If you want a shorter, more informal form, you can attach the suffix -ku: dompetku (“my wallet”), but in neutral or formal contexts dompet saya is preferred.

What does kosong mean exactly, and can I replace it with habis?

Kosong means “empty” (nothing inside). It describes a container or space that has zero contents. Habis means “finished,” “used up,” or “out of stock,” and is used for consumables or quantities that run out. For example:

Bensin habis = “the gasoline has run out.”
Saying dompet saya habis sounds odd, because a wallet isn’t something you consume. If your money is gone, you’d say uang saya habis, not your wallet.

Where can I place sekarang in the sentence? Does its position change the meaning?