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?

Sekarang (“now”) is an adverb and can go at the beginning, middle, or end without changing the core meaning: • Sekarang dompet saya kosong.
• Dompet saya kosong sekarang.
• Dompet saya sekarang kosong.
All mean “My wallet is empty now.” The difference is only in emphasis or style.

How do I indicate that I have more than one wallet? How is plurality shown?

Nouns in Indonesian do not change form for singular or plural. To show more than one, you can:
• Repeat the noun: dompet-dompet saya kosong sekarang (“my wallets are empty now”).
• Use numerals or quantifiers: dua dompet saya kosong (“my two wallets are empty”).
Often context alone makes it clear whether something is singular or plural.

Can I shorten dompet saya using a possessive suffix?

Yes. You can attach -ku to get dompetku kosong sekarang. This is more colloquial and intimate. In formal or neutral speech, you would stick with dompet saya.

Why is there no the or a before dompet?

Indonesian has no articles like the or a. Definiteness or indefiniteness comes from context, word order, or adding words such as sebuah (“a, one”) or demonstratives like ini/itu (“this/that”) when you need to specify. In most everyday sentences, you simply omit articles.